NEWS - Antoine Gaber
Transcription
NEWS - Antoine Gaber
Anno 2 numero 36 - Firenze Thursday 29 June 2006 ������������������������������� ������������������������� ����� �������� ����� �������� ������������������������������������ ��������������� ������������������������������ Runway over the river Designer Roberto Cavalli takes Florence as his muse Prince of vice Forza Azzurri!!! Son of last Italian King arrested By Leo Cardini see pg. 4 The Palio: ready, set, go By Kara Hoffman see pg. 6 see pg. 21 see pg. 16 INDEPENDENCE DAY Older than the Rolling Stones Villa Demidoff hosts annual Tuscan/American celebration Etruscan rocks star in Archaelogical Exhibit E D uring ‘Archaeological Nights’ Tuscany shows off its most ancient treasures in a packed calendar of 300 cultural events based on the theme ‘Ancient Tuscany in Europe and the Mediterranean.’ During special exhibits and extraordinary archaeological hikes, Tuscany’s museums and parks will welcome night-time visitors throughout the summer months. Thanks to theme dinners, cultural lectures and international previews of archaeologi- cal cinema, history lovers will have their share of excitement this summer. Currently the biggest archaeological festival in Italy and Europe, the initiative was created in 2001 and has gained international fame over the past five years. Designed to expose some of the region’s more hidden treasures, this year’s theme delves deeply into the relationship between the Etruscans and other Mediterranean civilizations. Vivere da Etrusco, Identità e Contaminazi- oni (‘Living like an Etruscan: Identity and Contamination’) highlights how Mediterranean populations profoundly influenced the Etruscan identity. Nineteen local museums, all members of the Archaeological Museum Association of Tuscany, will come together to host this extraordinary event, which is sponsored also by the Tuscan Region and the Superintendents of Tuscany’s archaeological patrimony. see pg. 3 xpect it all—hamburgers fresh off the grill, watermelon and homemade ice cream. Expect sun and shade, kids’ relay races, multicoloured balloons and pony rides. In a word, look for all the fun, games and good spirits characteristic of the Fourth of July. Only this year, expect to treat yourself to a bit of American independence—in Tuscany. On Saturday, July 1, from 5 pm to 11 pm, the Villa Demidoff in Pratolino will play host to over 3,000 people gathering to celebrate the day in the company of the American-Florentine community. see pg. 3 VOLVO XC70. DON’T STOP TO EXPLORE. DEALER Peragnoli-Scar FIRENZE (NORD) - Via F. Baracca 183 - Phone 055.43074 EMPOLI (FI) - Via Tosco Romagnola 120/122 - Phone 0571.592929 AUTHORIZED REPAIRER SIENA (MONTERIGGIONI) - Via Cassia Nord 110 - Phone 0577.318505 www.peragnoliscar.com PETROL ENGINE 2.5 T 210 bhp (154KW). TURBODIESEL COMMON RAIL D5: 163 bhp (120KW), 185 bhp (136KW). ALSO AVAILABLE WITH GEARTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. Fuel consumption, mixed cycle: 7.6 - 11.1 l/100 km. Carbon dioxide emissions: 201 - 266 g/Km. 2 www.theflorentine.net Thursday 29 June 2006 �������������� ������� �������������� ������������������ ��� ������ ��� ������������ ��� ������������������������� ��� �������������������� ������������������������������� ���������������������������������������� ������������������ ������������������������ ��������������� ����������������������� Address to send subscription: ������������������ ������������������������ ����������������� ��������������������������� ����������������� ���������������������������������� ������������������������������� Codice Fiscale or Partita IVA:_____________________________________ ����������������� ���������������������������������� ������������������������������ ������������������������������������������� ������������������ ��������������������������������������� ���������������������������������� ��������������������� ��������������������� ������������������������� ��������������������������� ��������������� ��������������������������� ����������������������������������������� ���������������������������������� ���������������������������������������� ������������������������� ������������������������������������� ������������������������������������� ������������������������ ��������������������������������� ������������������� ��������������������������� ������������������������� ���������������������������������� ���������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������� �������������������� ��������������������������� ���������������������������������������� �������������������������������������� ��������������������������������� ������������������������������ � ����������������������������� ��������������������������� �������������������� ���������������������������������������� ����������������������������� HOT IN THE CITY July 27 will be The Florentine’ s last summer issue. On September 7, we’ re back in town with news and views around Florence. June 29-30, July 1 Alda Baby baby clothes made in Italy Name :______________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ street city/state ����������������� feet by leo cardini JUST SUBSCRIBE TO THE FLORENTINE NOW ������������������� ������������������������������ ��������������������������������������� ������������������������������� ������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������� ����������������������������������� ������������������ ���������������������������������������� ��������������������������������� ����������������������� �������������������������������������� ���������������������������� �������������������������������������� ��������������� DON’T THINK ABOUT IT FOR ANOTHER CENTURY... Alda Baby cordially invites you to the presentation of its Spring/Summer 2007 collection at Hotel S.Gallo Palace – sala ‘Lorenzo’ via Lorenzo il Magnifico, 2 – Firenze tel. 055-463871 For reservations please call or write to us (tel. 0573/532777, [email protected]). Walk-ins welcome ____________________________________________________________ postal code country Email Address:________________________________________________ Subscription rates for 24 issues (one year subscription) are as follows: Italy: Rest of Europe/UK: North America: Australia: ® ® ® ® Euro 60 Euro 75 Euro 85 Euro 90 Method of payment: Cash Check written to: to B’Gruppo Srl Money Transfer to B’Gruppo s.r.l., Credito Emiliano, c/c 5642/9 ABI 03032, CAB 21500 ® ® ® (attach a copy of transaction) Mail or drop off this form with payment: The Florentine via Santa Maria 32/r 50125 Firenze - Italy Tel/fax +39 055 2306616 Email: [email protected] 3 News www.theflorentine.net Thursday 29 June 2006 Florence NEWS ������������������������������ www.theflorentine.net via santa maria 32r - 50125 Firenze tel. fax 0552306616 info@theflorentine.net editore Azimuth s.r.l. viale Montegrappa 142 - 59100 Prato direttore responsabile Fabiana Ceccarelli editor in Chief Nita Tucker managing editor Linda Falcone contributing editors Marco Badiani, Elia della Chiesa, Giovanni Giusti, Antonio Lo Iacono, Kate Bolton, Amy Gulick, Tony Tucker cultural editor Jane Fortune travel & Leisure writer Sabine Eiche graphics and layout Leo Cardini - Cathy Gale agilelogica.it printer La Marina, Calenzano (Fi) iscrizione al ROC (reg. degli operatori di comunicazione) n. 9927 reg. trib. di Prato trasmessa il 19/04/05 continued from pg. 1 Older than the Rolling Stones Greek ceramics found in Etruscan burial grounds take centre stage in Pitigliano, the Archaeological Civic Museum dedicated to Etruscan civilization, in their newest exhibit ‘Heroes, Divinity and Love,’ while the Etruscan Museum of Cortona’s Academy will explore the ancient art of perfumemaking in an experimental educational exhibit called ‘La Via dei Profumi’. During this two-month show starting July 1, fragrance fans can enjoy a myriad of rich essential oils recreated thanks to ancient Latin and Greek texts. For those who prefer the art of eating, the Archaeological and Art Museum of the Maremma will host an initiative called ‘Living like an Etruscan: Banquets, Aristocracy and Wine’ from July 1 to Aug. 31. Starting July 6, experts at the archaeological mineral park in San Silvestro a Campiglia Marittima will invite rock collectors to hop on a ‘mineral train’ for a one-and-a-half kilometre trip into the heart of the earth, along the ancient via ferrata used by miners. More than 90 types of minerals can be found in this open-air mineral history museum. Guided visits and hiking routes in Cortona will take the old and new archaeologists to more than eleven sites within its Archaeological Park from July 1 to July 9. Hikers can follow Hannibal’s footsteps along ancient Roman roads that once hosted the famed Battle of Trasimeno. Those who are looking for some alternative ‘nightlife’ can spend an evening or two in Civitella Paganico and take a night-time stroll around the Roman baths in Pietratonda. From July 2 to 6, brave night owls may carry torches through the Archaeological Park in Piombino and enjoy the monumental necropolis of San Cerbone. INDEPENDENCE DAY continued from pg. 1 The annual festivities have been organized by the Tuscan American Association, the International American League, the US Consulate General and several American universities in collaboration with various public institutions from the City of Florence. Picnic-goers can expect speeches from the Province President, Matteo Renzi, and the Mayor of the Municipality of Vaglia. Honoured guests will include the Consul General of Florence, Nora Dempsey, and various civil and military authorities of Florence and Tuscany. The local Marshals’ School Band and the Sergeants’ squad of the Carabinieri military police will provide a touch of official fanfare, and guests will also enjoy a traditional performance of Florentine Historical Soccer flag wavers. Dance lovers will enjoy night performances by the Jarama Ballet choreographed by Queta Meja Rodrigues. Music will be provided by G. La Pira Chorus in concert with Master Gianluca Serveri and the Black and White Ensemble accompanied by Maestro Alessandro Coco. Reyoada will perform Latin-American dancing and jazz and the Fabbrica di Pongo will give the audience a taste of traditional country rhythms. Football fans who wish to congregate in the Villa’s Sala Rossa will be able to enjoy two World Cup matches, broadcast on the maxi-screen at 6 pm and 9 pm. Event sponsors include Ely Lilly, APT (Associazione Promozione Tourism Firenze), The Florentine, Nuova Pignone, Calzoni In Colliva di Bologna, VM Motori, Expeditor International Italia, CocaCola, McDonalds, Culligan, Fattoria Luiano, Azienda Agricola Casale di Riccardo Falchini, Balloon Express, Scuola Equitazione Fiorentina, Castello Banfi, La Marzocco, Vivoli, Convivium, Comunità Montana del Mugello, Florsheim Europe, Syracuse University, Villa I Tatti, Rutgers University, and Mr Wolf Snc. Generous contributions have also been offered by Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze, Banca Toscana, Officine S. Maria Novella Firenze. Ticket price is 5 euro. Children enter free. Please RSVP with full name, via email to july4fi[email protected] For further information, please contact Francesco Bardazzi 328-611-6323. Table of CONTENTS NEWS 1 FLORENCE Older than the Rolling Stones Independence day it happen again? 4 Could Runway over the river with a view 5 Fort Street artists scrutinized ‘Just say no’ to alcohol to-go NEWS 6 NATIONAL Right-left tug-of-war Prince of vice NEWS 7 SPORT Alonso slams fourth straight win in Canadian GP Fear for the Fiorentina PICKS & 9 TOP CALENDAR OF EVENTS Events Highlights CLOSE & PERSONAL 14 UPAnGunnar interview with Peterson & CUSTOMS ITALIAN VOICES: 15 CULTURE A Window on Language and Customs in Italy 16 Forza Azzurri!!! 17 Raindrops kept falling & FASHION 18 STYLE Catching Vespa fever ARTS 19 THE ‘Passion For Life’ & LEISURE 20 TRAVEL Siena: city of colour 21 The Palio: ready, set, go REVIEW 22 BOOK Lasting Love, Politics and Poetry NUMBERS CLASSIFIED ADS 23 USEFUL 4 News Thursday 29 June 2006 www.theflorentine.net Florence NEWS News in BRIEF Tip-toeing to Siena In a recent environmental conference with participants from Europe, Asia, the US and Australia, Siena’s Santa Maria della Scala, became host to those dedicated to learning how to ‘tiptoe’ more lightly on the planet. The Footprint Forum 2006 Learn Share Connect, was sponsored by the University of Siena, its Province, the Municipality of Colle Val d’Elsa and the Italian Naval Commission. Our current annual demand for resources exceeds the earth’s regenerative capacity by 23%. Whilst Europe accounts for only 7% of the world’s total population, it uses 17% of its resources. The Sienese conference presented a in-depth study of Ecological Footprints and Biocapacity Accounts, a widely used tool in international policy-making which measures how much land and water area a population requires to produce the resources it consumes and to absorb its wastes. Art without borders International art lovers shouldn’t miss the Art exhibition “Art Without Borders” on display until June 30 at the California State Center in via Leopardi 12. The exhibit is the celebratory culmination of the University’s Summer Arts Program held in Florence this June, attended by American and Italian students from the Fine Arts Academy of Florence. The program, coordinated by prominent American figurative artist Domenic Cretara, and included guest artists of international prestige such as Marsha Steinberg. For further information contact: www.csusummerarts.org. Let the sales begin It’s almost ‘hunting’ season. Up and down the boot, shoppers are starting to scout out bargains at mid-summer sales. Nationwide sales season generally translates into a 40% markdown off the original price in clothing stores across the country. Each town designates the day that the sales begin. Milano and Turin start their sales on July 1. July 7 is the big day for Genova, Bologna and Bari. Romans will hit the shops on July 8. Local shoppers will have to wait another two weeks for tempting price tags. Florence, along with Venice, has scheduled the start of sales season for July 15. According to Italian law, during this six to eight week period, all clothes displayed need a tag with original and reduced prices and percent of discount being applied. Could it happen again? Concerns still exist 40 years after Flood F amed throughout the world for its gently rolling hills, many people forget that the region of Tuscany is also well-known for its rivers and streams. Its waterways stretch 22,575 square kilometres throughout an area that boasts no less than 273 large and small streams and 13 bays. The Tuscan streams, beautiful as they may be, prove particularly prone to low periods during the summer season and sudden destructive high tides during autumn and winter months. This natural tendency has earned Tuscany unfortunate notoriety for its frequent floods. In terms of flood-related disasters, Tuscany places third in the Italian context with a total of 656 floods plaguing regional history. The temperamental nature of the Po River has earned Piemonte a record high 844 floods, while the Veneto region claims second place with 767 floodrelated emergencies. Giovanni Menduni, General Secretary of the Authorities of the Bacino since 2000 and author of over 200 publications, has recently published a new Dizionario dell’Arno, an all-encompassing study that spans over 40 years of history since the flood of 1966. It is a compendium of people, places, stories, culture, traditions surrounding the history of Tuscany’s ‘silver river.’ The 442-page-work, published last week by Edizioni Aida, starts with the city’s efforts to protect the historical centre and ends with an in-depth study of mannerist artist Federico Zuccai, painter of L’Arno a Firenze, currently hosted at the Louvre. The Florentine popular consciousness easily returns to that fateful November day in 1966 when the Arno and its numerous tributaries proved incapable of supporting the ebb and flow of nature’s unstoppable power. Exactly who or what contributed to the magnitude of nature’s wrath? Experts often cite the public administration’s inability to provide appropriate river maintenance. They also blame the inefficiency of hydraulic consortiums, unprecedented deforestation, and the presence of an excessive number of dredges. Evaluating the stability of the Arno basin continues to be of primary interest, as critics argue that the hydraulic characteristics of the river have remained virtually unaltered since 1966. All eyes turn to the authorities of the Arno River Basin, who admit that many more years and a lot more money will be necessary before implementation of the river maintenance plan approved in 1999. Its main goal is to guarantee the security of at least 1,200 square meters of the basin and the small and large river-side towns that are still considered at risk. Gas guzzlers Local service stations suspected of fraud L ocal tax police visited 30 petrol stations in the Florentine area and came away with disappointing news. Their objective? To verify that the quantity of petrol paid for by motorists actually corresponds to what ends up in the tank. Of the service stations monitored, only 3 achieved ‘up to par status.’ According to said investigation, in 85 percent of Florentine gas stations consumers risk paying for more gas than their cars actually receive. For a 50to-60-litre tank, this means that on average drivers get half a litre less than what shows up on the distributor’s register. The service stations caught ‘cheating’ have been issued a ‘readjustment’ order and must pay for a mandatory revision of their service station and the certification of properly functioning equipment, before they will be allowed to serve the public again. The Union of Petrol Station Workers argues that the tax police only visited 5 percent of service stations in and around Florence. They affirm that, overall, the system is quite regulated and foresees yearly revisions that should insure that all gas pumps are working efficiently. RUNWAY OVER THE RIVER Designer Roberto Cavalli takes Florence as his muse ‘T he fashion world isn’t suffering from an economic crisis,’ says Florentine designer Roberto Cavalli, ‘it’s suffering from a creativity crisis. I’d like us to stop being inspired by the fashions of the ‘40s, ‘60s and ‘70s. It would be wonderful to finally say that the fashion of the third millennium has invented something new.’ And yet—new ideas for fashion often sprout up in old places. Ponte Vecchio recently served as centre stage for one of Pitti Uomo’s most awaited events. Roberto Cavalli’s extraordinary show saw Naomi Campbell in white and Afef in black, as the two ladies opened the gates of the evening’s elegance. Five haute gowns a-piece for each top-model, who led the procession of more than 40 pieces from Cavalli’s menswear collection. ‘This bridge profoundly influenced the show,’ said Cavalli regarding the collection’s originality. ‘I have always remained a true Florentine and continue to love this city deeply. To be honest, when they told me that we would be able to hold the show here, I felt a bit intimidated. I could imagine the men of the past looking down at me from the windows of the Vasari Corridor, and as a result, I re-created the entire collection. My goal was to make it more sombre and less showy, but also to achieve a level of authenticity and masculinity. I wanted to make the line less colourful. Usually if you put monochromatic fabrics into my hands I don’t know what to do with them, but I recognize that men often do prefer darker shades.’ Florence’s most famous bridge served as a worthy muse for the stylist, who admits, ‘I bowed down to Ponte Vecchio, making sure music wasn’t too loud, or the show’s flair too extravagant. The bridge’s beauty and Florence were enough.’ Against a striking background, dandy men in black jackets and trousers wore dusty rose and violet collar shirts. A flash of extra colour came from scarves draped around their shoulders or knotted like ties. New deerskin moccasins and patent leather shoes made for a perfect strut along the city’s most beautiful bridge. 5 News www.theflorentine.net Thursday 29 June 2006 Florence NEWS Fort with a view Belvedere opens its gates to summer T here’s nothing like a bird’s eye view of Florence at dusk in one of the city’s best-loved summer-time spots. From now until August 31, the Forte Belvedere will keep its gates wide open from midday to 2am and become stage to a whole series of summer shows. The ‘Forte Davvero’ calendar boasts an original series of live music and dance performances, alternative cinema, theatre and exhibitions. During last week’s inauguration, Cultural Councillor Simone Siliani addressed the challenges of organizing an event series of such magnitude. ‘We’ve gone through some hard times both in terms of organization and logistics,’ Siliani admits. ‘The Forte Belvedere is certainly one of the most striking places in the world, if not the most beautiful, but it’s hard to manage and its maintenance is quite expensive. The City Council has made huge efforts recently to give this place back to the Florentines.’ When it comes to outdoor entertainment, the fort is certainly the place to be. On June 29, audiences will gather for a taste of tragedy with ‘Oedipus the King,’ while ‘Romeo and Juliet’ will repeatedly declare their star-crossed love in performances on July 12, 14, 15 and 19. Giorgio Mancini has choreographed the play to the music of Sergej Prokof’ev. On July 22 and 24, music-lovers can listen to scores by composer John Adams in ‘Chairman Dances’ and ‘Words No Longer Heard,’ choreographed by Lucinda Childs and Giorgio Mancini respectively. And every night during the entire month of August, cinema buffs can enjoy free ‘cinema Atelier.’ STREET ARTISTS SCRUTINIZED City commission insures painters are up to snuff From June 15 to Sep 18, the second floor of the fort’s palace will host an exhibit, showing 241 works from Alberto della Ragione’s private collection, donated to the City of Florence in 1969. This series of prestigious paintings and sculptures showcases the development of 20thcentury Italian art. Two additional collections will be displayed alongside della Ragione’s masterpieces, namely those of Filippo de Pisis and Ottone Rosai. Until Aug 31, fort-goers can take advantage of a special shuttle service that will provide transportation every fifteen minutes from 8pm to midnight. Shuttles depart from the delle Murate car park on Viale Giovine Italia. ‘Just say no’ to alcohol to-go New law pressures San Lorenzo to shape up Y ou can enjoy any drink you please, as long as you order and consume it on the premises at one of San Lorenzo’s neighbourhood bars and pubs. In an ‘urgent ordinance’ issued by prefect Andrea De Martino, it is now illegal for pubs to sell alcohol beverages to- go from 10pm to closing time. This city initiative, in effect until the end of July, was prompted by increasing occurrences of drunken brawls in the area. Martino’s stance has been gladly received by San Lorenzo’s citizens, who, in recent months, have repeatedly voiced pleas for the city to ‘clean up the neighbourhood.’ Police support is being sent by Italy’s national headquarters in Rome to counteract the micro criminality, illegal commerce and random acts of violence that have begun exasperating both residents and merchants throughout the area. These 15 new officers will strengthen the 56-man squad that already works in the San Lorenzo neighbourhood on any given day. The city of Florence currently pays 1 million euro per year for citywide urban police services. Mayor Domenici has taken advantage of the San Lorenzo debate to pose some serious questions to city administrators. ‘We have to realize that we need to find alternative resources to support the urban guards. To me, it seems right that even people who come as visitors from out of town contribute to supporting safety in the city. I propose that part of the money needed for public security come from external sources.’ The talk goes back to the socalled tourist tax, known as the ‘contributo di scopo,’ which would be used to maintain, clean and safeguard the city. F lorence welcomes them in hoards—artists and artisans, both local and foreign, to whom this city represents their eternal muse of creativity. But among the summertime crowds that come to feast on cultural treats, is there still room in the vias and piazzas for these street painters? Perhaps. But only the most talented, please. In a totally new beauty-based initiative, Palazzo Vecchio has decided to give a city-sponsored exam to the painters and portrait artists who populate Piazza Duomo and the entire historical centre. From now on, anyone who wishes to show their works on the turf supplied by the City will have to be scrutinized and approved by a city council committee intent on evaluating the originality and genuine quality of the paintings displayed. In efforts to support emerging talent, the City of Florence has also decided to make 10 percent of the street-vending spaces available to artists under 26 years old, those who have recently graduated from local art institutes. These young artists will be judged by a commission of three art experts specialized in painting, graphic arts and photo and computer design and layout. One hundred forty coveted spots dot the historical centre: seven can be found on the Ponte Vecchio and 30 slices of space line Piazza Duomo. Twenty places are located in Piazza Pitti, 18 in Santa Croce, 10 spots grace Piazzale Michelangelo and Piazza della Repubblica, while up to 30 art-corners crowd Piazzale degli Uffizi. The lucky artists who earn city-approved space are obligated to display a sign with their logo, licence and concession expiration date. Threat of license revocation looms over artists who display their works without exhibiting these mandatory details. CAN EUTHANASIA COME OUT OF THE CLOSET? Florentine doctors plead for parliamentary support F lorentine doctors are taking action against clandestine euthanasia. Antonio Panti, president of the Order of Florentine Physicians, has joined forces with 30 local doctors in support of a petition promoted by the Luca Cosioni Association for Freedom of Scientific Research. These physicians have requested that the Italian government and parliament carry out in-depth research regarding the phenomenon of clandestine euthanasia in Italy. ‘We urgently need to gather reliable data on a national level,’ says Giulia Simi, Vice Secretary of the Luca Coscioni Association. ‘Reliable statistics would allow us to inform citizens and spark a serious and in-depth debate on clandestine euthanasia, a problem that has often been denounced by Health Minister Umberto Veronesi,’ Simi continues. Availability of life-saving medical treatment has allowed patients to live longer in what many people consider ‘unacceptable conditions.’ This phenomenon has given rise to ethical issues and debates regard- ing personal freedoms throughout the world, and Italy has proven to be no exception. Supporters of the local petition found a governmentsponsored research model in studies carried out in Holland in 1990. Results showed the widespread use of illegal euthanasia by both doctors and relatives. Local petitioners affirm that the political debate which arose from this data proved instrumental in the development of much-needed regulatory norms regarding the phenomenon. 6 News Thursday 29 June 2006 www.theflorentine.net National NEWS News in BRIEF Mafia crackdown in Sicily Italian police arrested 45 people in an anti-Mafia raid last week, including top bosses who had allegedly been in touch with Bernardo Provenzano, the reputed top boss apprehended earlier this year. The operation involved 500 police officers and dismantled the top tiers of Palermo syndicates. Suspects have been charged with Mafia association and extortion. Piero Grasso, national anti-Mafia prosecutor, said that wiretapped conversations among top mobsters gave a very clear picture of the Sicilian Mafia. Desperate measures to clear calcio’s conscience Italians Sports Minister Giovanna Melandri said Friday that Italian soccer’s rulebook must be overhauled if the scandal-ravaged game is to regain credibility. Melandri said she will start a series of talks next month with figures from the sports world to discuss what rule changes should be made. The minister was speaking at the presentation of a report by the Independent European Sports Review, which addresses a number of soccer-related issues. The Review, set up by the British presidency of the EU last year, proposes a series of measures which include the foundation of a European Agency for Sport and a new Europe-wide tax on sports betting. Measures would also establish more robust checks over transfer dealings and initiatives to divert more of the money generated by the Champions League to grassroots soccer. Smog: Italy’s greatest serial killer Smog, dust particles and ozone kill nearly 9,000 Italians a year, according to a study published last week by the World Health Organization. The report, commissioned by Italy’s Environmental Protection Agency, looked at 13 Italian cities and found that air pollution is playing an increasingly alarming role in the development of a wide variety of diseases. Air pollutant levels were over the EU safety limits at least 35 days last year in most of the cities looked at. ‘Only six of Italy’s 20 regions have produced a required plan on air quality and only two of these have been approved by the EU so far,’ said Italy’s new environmental minister Alfonso Scanio. ������������������� � � ����� � � � � � � � � � � � Right-left tug-of-war Constitutional reform becomes battleground for political showdown I n a boost for Premier Romano Prodi, Italians on Monday rejected sweeping constitutional and devolutionary reforms drawn up by the government of his predecessor, Silvio Berlusconi. The final vote tally showed that 61.7% were against the reforms, which would have strengthened the powers of the premier and introduced greater autonomy for Italy’s 20 regions. The ‘no’ vote won in all regions except the northern, centre-right strongholds of Lombardy and the Veneto. Turnout in the referendum was unexpectedly high at 53.6%, with more people voting in the north than in the south. Prodi and his nine-party coalition had urged Italians to throw out the amendments approved by Berlusconi’s government in November 2005. Since the amendments did not gain the two-thirds support in parliament needed for legislation affecting the 1948 Constitution, they could not have been implemented unless Italians approved them. Prodi expressed his satisfaction on Monday, stressing that cross-party consensus was required for such important reforms. ‘It is now our duty to open dialogue with all political parties and discuss together the adjustments that should be made to the Constitution,’ said the centre-left leader. Some members of the centre left had feared high turnout in the north, where 60.35% of those eligible voted compared to 42.6% in the south, could swing the vote in Berlusconi’s favour because of the devolutionary aspect. The reforms would have devolved greater powers to Italy’s regions in the areas of health, education and local policing. These amendments were key conditions set by the small federalist Northern League for maintaining its support for Berlusconi’s government and appealed to many voters in the more affluent regions of the north. The reforms would transformed the Senate into a federal rather than legislative body. They also would have increased the powers of the premier, making the head of government a directly elected figure with the power to hire and fire ministers, propose that parliament be dissolved and call elections. The government was staunchly opposed to the overhaul, arguing that Italy’s underdeveloped southern regions would be penalised by the devolutionist part. It also said the other measures would have created a too-powerful premier-ship, weakened parliament and risked lengthening legislative procedures by creating conflicts between the chambers of parliament.�� Indecent proposals Sex scandals stain Italian public television I taly’s public television station RAI has launched an internal investigation into charges it helped a powerful political figure reward young women with broadcast appearances in exchange for sexual favours, an Italian daily reported Monday. ‘We cannot put our head in the sand. We will talk about it in our board meeting,’ RAI President Claudio Petruccioli told the daily Repubblica. The accusation that Salvatore Sottile, spokesman for right-wing politician Gianfranco Fini, enjoined the station’s vice director of human resources to give the women air time surfaced in a prosecutor’s statement which led to last week’s arrest of Prince Vittorio Emanuele. ‘The means by which Salvatore Sottile took advantage of his position to obtain sexual favours from young women...while holding out the prospect of securing them roles or participation in RAI programs is discon- certing,’ the investigative magistrate in Potenza wrote. Sottile is suspected of being part of the Prince’s alleged criminal network. Several Italian newspapers published transcripts Monday of wiretapped conversations in which Sottile discusses with the RAI executive – sometimes in a sexually explicit and scabrous manner –the women he is proposing for roles in broadcasts. ‘This story is really sordid, but at least it might serve as a trigger for an overhaul of entertainment programming on Italian public television,’ the secretary of the Usigrai Labour Union at RAI said. The presence of scantily-clad models on a wide variety of Italian programs, including game and talk shows, and musical variety programs, provokes frequent debate in Italy, and was criticized in 2005 by the United Nations special committee on discrimination against women. PRINCE OF VICE Son of last Italian king arrested P rince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy was jailed last week in the southern city of Potenza in connection with a prostitution and corruption probe, and was questioned by investigating magistrates last Tuesday. The 69-yearold prince’s lawyer, Lodovico Isolabella, told reporters afterwards that he was ‘very satisfied’ with the way the questioning went. The prince, the son of Italy’s last king, was arrested along with 12 other suspects and is accused of recruiting prostitutes from Eastern Europe for a casino in Campione d’Italia, an Italian enclave in Switzerland. Vittorio Emanuele is also accused of corruption in connection with the obtaining of licences and supply contracts for rigged gambling machines procured by Sicilian businessman Rocco Migliardi. The prince, who initially denied all wrongdoing, was accused of using his high-level contacts to help sell the video poker games to the Campione Casino and countries including Libya. Prosecutors also suspect him of links with Mafia clans. Migliardi was also arrested on Friday together with the prince’s secretary, and Venetian businessman Ugo Bonazza. Six other suspects were placed under house arrest, including Salvatore Sottile, the spokesman of former foreign minister Gianfranco Fini who heads the rightist National Alliance (AN) party. The prince’s son, Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, repeatedly protested against his father’s arrest. He has accused the prosecutor in charge of the case, Henry John Woodcock, of seeking publicity. The Neapolitan prosecutor has a reputation for launching high-profile cases, not all of which, however, have resulted in trials. On Friday, last week, Vittorio Emanuele finally admitted to being guilty of taking bribes and being involved in various levels of ‘exploitation.’ He was granted house-arrest in a 200 square meter flat in Rome, as he awaits trial. Italy’s former royal family was banished in 1946 following a national referendum establishing the Republic, their name tainted by links of Emanuele’s grandfather, Vittorio Emanuele III, with Fascism.�The male members of the Savoy family were subsequently banned from entering Italy by the 1948 Constitution. In November 2002, the Italian parliament lifted the ban.� 7 Sports www.theflorentine.net Thursday 29 June 2006 Sports NEWS Cycling: Formula 1: Alonso slams fourth straight win in Canadian GP T his was the race during which Michael Schumacher was supposed to close the gap on Fernando Alonso in the chase for the Formula 1 championship. After all, Schumacher has won the Canadian Grand Prix seven times. Alonso has never had anything but trouble at the Circuit Gilles Villeneueve. None of that mattered Sunday—Alonso drove his Renault to an easy victory for his fourth consecutive win. The Spaniard has six victories this season and 15 straight top-three finishes. Alonso had failed to finish the Canadian GP in three of his previous four races, including last year when he crashed while leading. This time, his only problem was staying focused despite leading by almost 25 seconds in the closing laps. The reigning world champion stretched his lead to 25 points over Schumacher, who passed Kimi Raikkonen with one lap to go to finish second. Raikkonen wound up third. They now head to Indianapolis for the United States Grand Prix, which Schumacher won last season after Alonso and 13 other drivers boycotted because of concern over tire safety. But Alonso has struggled during F1’s North American swing but hopes for better results next week. Schumacher, the seven-time world champion, has been hesitant to put too much importance on this two-race stretch in regards to the overall title. That didn’t change even after Alonso picked up another two points. Alonso, who started from the pole, had only a brief challenge from Raikkonen early in the race but held Series A Fear for the Fiorentina Anxious fans await sports trail verdict A s the nation gathers around maxiscreens in piazzas and parks all over the country, local soccer fans continue to wait with baited breath even after the national matches are over. While Italy is out rooting for the national ‘Blue team,’ Florentines are busy worrying about their own local colour. Recent scandals in the football world have made the Violet team’s future uncertain. Last week, federal prosecutor Palazzi disqualified the Fiorentina in accordance with an official document issued by the FICG (Italian Football Game Federation) Commissioner, Giudo Rossi. Rossi confirmed that 30 parties have been found guilty of violating Articles 1 and 6 of the Code of Sports Justice. Juventus, Lazio, and Milan have been mentioned for similar violations. Infringement of Article 1 refers to fairness within the match, and sanctions range from penalty points to trophy revocation. Photograph Florence..and Fly to SARDEGNA!! Send your photo to info@theflorentine.net Each week Ryanair will be offering two round trip tickets Pisa-Alghero (Sardinia), which will be awarded to the photographer of the “Pic of the Week”. The winner will be chosen by The Florentine editorial staff ...and the winner is... author: Eugenia Solopova title: Piazza Duomo’s life off the Finn’s attempt to pass him on the 12th lap. Raikkonen had a horrible day in the pits, having trouble on a tire change during his first stop and stalling his McLaren on another, preventing him from challenging Alonso again. He was then passed by Schumacher with one lap to go. But Schumacher also had a rough day and never tested Alonso. He drove his Ferrari off course once, brushed the wall and cut across the curve on the final turn several times to take him out of contention. Even though he won the pole—his fifth in a row—he expected a challenge from Schumacher and Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa for the victory. Giancarlo Fisichella, Alonso’s team-mate at Renault, was fourth and Massa was fifth. Jarno Trulli scored his first points of the season with a sixth-place finish for Toyota. Nick Heidfeld was seventh for Williams and David Coulthard came in eighth after starting last because he changed his engine before the race. Jenson Button was eighth in a Honda and American Scott Speed was 10th. Jacques Villeneuve finished 16th on the track named for his late father. He was heading to at least seventh place when he crashed into the wall with 11 laps to go. Breaching Article 6 is considered more serious as the law refers to illegal activities in sports. In addition to penalties, infringement includes demotion to lowest ranking position or to a lower class series. The Violet football club is being accused of unfair play in five games: LazioFiorentina, Bologna-Fiorentina, Chievo-Fiorentina, Fiorentina-Atalanta, and Lecce-Parma. Prosecutor Palazzi also disqualified Diego and Andrea della Valle and delegate administrator of the Fiorentina, Sandro Mencucci. Fans fear their team may be forced down to Series B. The verdict will be issued as the result of a month-long sports trial, scheduled to end on July 20. LEMOND ACCUSES, ‘Lance threatened me’ I n an interview with French sports daily L’Equipe, three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond has claimed Lance Armstrong threatened him after criticising his involvement with a doctor linked with a drugs scandal. LeMond, who in 1986 became the first American to win the Tour de France, stated ‘he (Armstrong) threatened my wife, my business, my life.’ LeMond had previously tried to steer Armstrong clear of working with Italian doctor Michele Ferrari who was at the centre of a drugs scandal in 2004, and who LeMond now considers to have been proven to have been ‘a negative influence on cycling.’ The American, who turned 45 last week, also hit out at the current state of cycling, saying that the problem of doping in cycling goes far beyond just Lance Armstrong. Sailing: FINAL COUNTDOWN IN VALENCIA I t’s the penultimate dress rehearsal before the final showdown for the America’s Cup in 2007 as Act XII of the Louis-Vuitton Cup gets underway in Valencia on Friday. Alinghi, sailing in its port of call for its title defence next year, will have one last look at its 11 challengers. Kicking off in Marseilles in 2004, the 32nd edition of the world’s oldest continuing sporting event has for the first time played out over four years with only an Act XIII to follow next April before the Louis-Vuitton one year from now, followed by the America’s Cup where the challenger will take on the Swiss boat. Some, like BMW Oracle (USA), Luna Rossa (ITA), Shosholoza (AFS) or Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) already have new boats. For others, like Alinghi and Mascalzone Latino, it’s still too early to unveil their new model. Even though SUI 91 was christened last month, Ernesto Bertarelli prefers to continue sailing on SUI 75 with Peter Holmberg at the helm. 8 www.theflorentine.net Thursday 29 June 2006 Movie REVIEWS Movies in English showing in Florence Weeks June 29- July 13 2006 by James Douglas Thursday June 29 Monday July 10 Monday July 3 Thursday July 6 ODEON THEATRE ODEON THEATRE ODEON THEATRE THE DA VINCI CODE X-MEN: THE LAST STAND THE LAKE HOUSE Tom Hanks as cryptologist Robert Langdon is on auto-pilot and does little to sustain interest. Audrey Tautou as his bland investigative side-kick, Sophie, trails along, speaking zombie English and providing ornament in the place of the love interest the story lacks. Only the dry wit and underplayed villainy of Ian McKellen as Sir Leigh, and Paul Bettany’s stunningly demented menacing mad monk Silas save Ron Howard’s movie The Da Vinci Code from the pedestrian and the mundane. Dan Brown’s novel, based on a dodgy premise and a determination to scandalise believers with vaguely plausible mumbo-jumbo, at least had the pace and verve of a sensible thriller. The movie is slack, plodding and mediocre. Everyone on the planet will see it. If you’re different from the rest of humanity, you’re marginalised, oppressed, despised, but you’re also special, and if somebody came up with a cure for your condition, would you take it? This is the premise of the third in the X-Men trilogy, X-Men: The Last Stand, entrusted to Brett Ratner (Bryan Singer having jumped ship for the new Superman movie). The cast, however remains intact, with the addition of Kelsey Grammer as The Beast caught in the crossfire as Professor Charles Xavier (‘the socialist’) and Magneto (‘the Darwinist’) go head to head in this actionpacked allegorical fantasy that has more than a little to say about current global political initiatives and the state of human affairs. And there’s Wolverine to relish too… Time travel and dangling conversations (rather too often about architecture) characterise Alejandro Agresti’s The Lake House, a remake of Korean director Hyun-seung Lee’s Siworae (2000), with Sandra Bullock as the doctor and Keanu Reeves as the architect. In time zones two years apart, the middle-aged professional loners conduct their romance in voice-over readings of letters never sent or yet to be sent. Or something Tuesday July 11 ODEON THEATRE ODEON THEATRE UNITED 93 RV: RUNAWAY VACATION Tuesday July 4 ODEON THEATRE ROMANCE & CIGARETTES John Turturro’s ‘savage musical’ Romance & Cigarettes puts New York working man Nick Murder (James Gandolfini) into a classic love triangle with long-suffering wife Kitty (Susan Sarandon) and saucy seductress Tula (Kate Winslet). With the addition of song and dance routines that derive from the scraps and leftovers of the music that plays in the soundtracks of our lives, a period New York setting and the freedom to indulge in a crudity of language denied to filmmakers of the time, Turturro’s third film as director (he also wrote it) aims for a sophisticated audience. It had a mixed reaction at Cannes, variously seen as muddled, vulgar, experimental, edgy, soapy and not quite successful. Thursday July 13 On September 11, 2001 United 93 was the fourth plane hijacked, and the one intended to wreak havoc on the Capitol. Paul Greengrass’s film United 93 perhaps surprisingly manages to deal effectively, sensitively and thrillingly with the horrors of that day, the mutiny of the passengers and the struggle to avert death and destruction on an almost unimagined scale. With a documentary truthfulness, helped by its real time frame, the movie has an authentic feel and is a timely and sobering reminder of 9/11, the kind of movie that does Hollywood proud, despite (or because of) its long tradition of ‘gratuitous’ disaster epics that never quite ring true. Summer family fun with Robin Williams and co. in Barry Sonnenfeld’s RV. Depending where you are, this can stand for recreational vehicle or runaway vacation or both. Dysfunctional non-campers are taken on a camping trip, have lots of cheesy adventures, gross out with fountains of excrement, injudicious immersions in the wild, and side-splitting vehicle runaway situations. Rated PG in US and UK for crude language and innuendo. Will a Robin Williams vehicle ever again be a runaway success? 9 What’s on & Where to Go www.theflorentine.net Thursday 29 June 2006 Events in FLORENCE mbership card necessary OUR TOP PICKS t tt THE MEDICI MONTH - All of July The Medici Month, currently in its fourth year, has become one of the most popular events of the summer and combines art history, and entertainment. It includes a packed cultural calendar that reveals the history of Florence through anecdotes of the Medici family during their three centuries of Florentine rule. The Medici Month remembers both well-known and more mysterious Medici, casting them as characters in original theatre plays. These fresh and exciting theatrical events find their natural stage throughout the city in the churches, gardens, and palace halls that were created or loved by the Medici family. In addition to theatre, the Medici Month includes guided visits and conferences hosted by important Florentine personalities which allow aficionados to get to know the history, lifestyles and art that have made this family essential to the Florentine identity. For info and a full calendar of events: www.mesemediceo.it INDEPENDENCE DAY - July 1 Independence Day is arriving early this year at the Parco di Villa Demidoff in Pratolino, an event which celebrates the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the USA signed in 1776. A great place for family and friends to gather for barbecue and baseball games, live music performances and relay races. Organizers include the Tuscan American Association, the Tuscan-American league, various American universities hosted in Florence and several of the city’s Regional and Provincial offices. For more information write to: july4fi[email protected] OLTRARNO STREET FESTIVAL - June 28 - July 29 This neighbourhood music festival presents a series of live music concerts and various artistic performances from June 28 to July 28. The festival takes place in the heart of the city in Piazza della Passera, one of the most colourful neighbourhood piazzas in Florence, situated just steps from Palazzo Pitti and Via Maggio. Shows start at 9:30 pm and cover the entire musical spectrum from jazz and Latin jazz, to Brazilian tunes, rock, pop blues and funky sounds. Piazza-goers can also appreciate New York jazz and Samba jazz with legendary pianist Blue Note, composer of the soundtrack from the celebrated series ‘Sex and the City.’ From July 3 to 18 audiences can enjoy the ironic theatre of Florentine actress Roberta Di Bartolome who will be presenting two comedy monologues throughout the month. The area’s shops, cafés, and restaurants will prolong their opening hours during the music festival. For more information call: 055 2645356 OPERA FESTIVAL 2006 - From June to August This summer the magnificent Boboli Garden and the beautiful Medici Villa of Cafaggiolo in Barberino di Mugullo will be hosts to some of the most celebrated operas in the world. G. Bizet’s Carmen and La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi will be performed on outdoor stages complete with striking and innovative set designs. The Opera Festival also includes a series of symphonic concerts including music by C. Orff, Carmina Burana and The Four Seasons masterpiece by Vivaldi. For more information see www.festivalopera.it or call 055-5979005/ 210804 VINTAGE SELECTION - July 5-8 From July 6-9, during the Pitti Filati Exhibition, Stazione Leopolda’s Spazio Alcatraz will host the Summer edition of Vintage Selection. This trade-fair is dedicated to vintage fashion, accessories and vintage furniture. 25 of the most important Italian and foreigner fashion designers will display their best creations during this 3-day post-modern exhibit. From 10 in the morning till 11 at night, collectors and fashion-obsessed shoppers will be able to search for strange dresses, eccentric shoes, bags, belts, hats, trinkets, military uniforms, jeans and sportswear. The clothes have been collected primarily between the 30’s and the 80’s and all coming from used or dead-stocks. Brands on display include Chanel, Pierre Cardin, Emilio Pucci, Roberta di Camerino, Christian Dior, Balenciaga, and Gucci. The exhibition also includes a fun section called ‘Vintage Kids’ which showcases the history of kids’ fashions during the 60’s and 70’s. For more information see: www.stazione-leopolda.com MERCANTIA - Certaldo, July 11-16 Mercantia, is a Medieval theatre festival and market, celebrated in Certaldo, that has become one of the most symbolic cultural festivals in Tuscany. Famous for its originality and unique form, the festival was started in 1988 by the City of Certaldo. For five nights every July, the streets and squares of this Medieval Village come alive with the magic of the ‘Teatro da Quattro Soldi’. Jugglers, clowns, puppeteers and acrobats join fire-eaters, fakirs, magicians and musicians for an unmatchable theatrical extravaganza. Groups of artists come from every part of Italy and abroad to participate in this unforgettable ‘uninterrupted street show.’ For more information visit: www.mercantiacertaldo.it SUMMER NIGHTS - From June to September Enjoy numerous events sponsored by the City Council and various neighbourhood districts. Every night in piazzas, palaces and gardens throughout Florence, city-dwellers can chose between theatre, dance, music, art and culture. Check the Ongoing ‘Summer Nights’ section for news on different events. Those inspired to treat themselves to an evening away can also find a ‘Summer Nights’ section in the Out of Town events column. 40th Anniversary of Florence Flood Do you have a story to tell about the Flood of 1966? Were you a mud angel or do you know one? Do you have photos of those days in Florence? The Florentine is preparing a special edition for the Flood’s 40th anniversary Distributed all over the world in September. Write to: the_flood@theflorentine.net JUN 30 TO JUL 13 FRIDAY 30 n COURSES Katia Beni Cabaret Piazzale Michelangelo, www.comune.fi.it, info 055-27681, 22.32 Intensive summer courses in Painting and Drawing The California State Summer Arts Program, California State Center on via G. Leopardi 12 SUNDAY 2 n DANCE n DANCE Schiavi Motus Danza, www.chille.it Area San Salvi, Via S. Salvi 12, info 055.6236195, 21.00, € 5,00 n GUIDED TOURS Recently restored frescoes by Domenico del Ghirlandaio in the Sassetti Cappella Tour by Akropolis cultural association Chiesa di Santa Trinita, p.za Santa Trinita, info 055-461428, 16.00 Welcome to Art Meetings in the evening twice a week for strangers living in Florence Until June 30 MUDI Museo degli Innocenti, piazza SS. Annunziata 12, tel. 0552037308 n MUSIC & CONCERTS Quartetto Perseo Opera Festival 2006 Giardino di Boboli, p.za Pitti, www.festivalopera.it, info 055-5979005, 21:00 sale at Box Office Festival Amadeus Orchestra of the Amsterdam University Camerata Choir and Liberatore Choir music by Mozart Chiesa di S. Stefano al Ponte Vecchio info 055597026 Quartetto Perseo Opera Festival 2006 Giardino di Boboli, p.za Pitti, Grotta del Buontalenti, www.festivalopera.it, info 0555979005 / 210804, Box Office for tickets,21.00 Mens Sana Trio Caruso Jazz Café, via Lambertesca, 14/16r, www.carusojazzcafe.com, info 055281940, 21.30 n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) La Mandragola Machiavellica 2006 Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Via del Proconsolo, 4, info 333-2284784,ticket €15 on sale 1hour bifore the show, 21.15 Lucio Caizzi Cabaret Piazzale Michelangelo, www.comune.fi.it, info 055-27681, 22.33 SATURDAY 1 n GUIDED TOURS Ancient Walls of Florence, The Medici Month Visit to wall fortification designed by Michelangelo. Tour led by Cristina Porciani www.mesemediceo.it, info 055-6120205, n MARKETS & FESTIVALS Independence Day 2006. Picnic organized by the Tuscan American Association This is a really nice, well-attended event. It is a wonderful chance to meet people, catch up with people you haven’t seen in a while, and enjoy a beautiful venue Villa Demidoff (Via Bolognese; take bus 25A & get out at Pratolino) from 5 p.m. onward. €5.00 cover charge includes food, drink (barbeque & beer are extra), sports & music; children under 12 get in free. n MUSIC & CONCERTS Egberto Gismonti Vivere Jazz Festival Teatro Romano, via Portigiani 1, Fiesole, Box Office, toll free 800 414240, 21.15 Mens Sana Trio See June 30 Magic Steps by Lisa Parra and Fabio Prudetti Recital of the Scuole di danza Fiorentine Rampe di Piazza Poggi , San Niccolò, info 349-2384360,, 22.00 n MUSIC & CONCERTS Michela Lombardi Quintet Vivere Jazz Festival See July 1, 6.30 pm Bollani, Bodilsen, Lund Trio Vivere Jazz Festival See July 1, 9 pm Dado Moroni Quartet Vivere Jazz Festival Nuova arena Cave di Maiano, See July 1, 11.30 pm n SPORTS & ACTIVITIES Trotting race Ippodromo Le Mulina, tel. 0554226076, www.ippocity.com n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) Il Mercante di Venezia Shakespeare, Archètipo Company See July 1 MONDAY 3 n CINEMA X MEN: The Last Stand Odeon CineHall, piazza Strozzi, tel. 055.214068, www.cinehall.it, Shows 6.008.15-10.30 pm Brian of Nazareth by Monty Python Cineteca di Firenze via reginaldo giuliani 357, info 055,450749, 21,45, 5€ n EXHIBITS Contrappunto Painting exhibition by Lisa Wade See Ongoing n MUSIC & CONCERTS Carla Bley Vivere Jazz Festival See July 1, 9.15 pm Szymanowski Quartet Classical music Badia Fiesolana, Via dei Roccettini 9 ,S. Domenico, Fiesole, info 055-401115 www. nuovieventimusicali.it, free, 21.00 n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) Patty Diphusa, Comedy dialogues by Pedro Almodovar Oltrarno Street Festival piazza della Passera, info 055-2645356, 21.30 Villa Fabbricotti Summer 2006 Theatre shows See ongoing Riso olimpico See ongoing at Villa Fabbricotti Estate 2006 TUESDAY 4 n CINEMA Romance & Cigarettes Odeon CineHall, piazza Strozzi, tel. 055.214068, www.cinehall.it, Shows 6.008.15-10.30 pm n GUIDED TOURS Discovering Ancient Cafaggio Tour by Akropolis cultural association, Arch Lara Mercanti meeting point in piazza SS. Annunziata front of the church, 17,30 info 055.461428 MUSIC & CONCERTS n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) n Concert for San Romolo, Choir and Or- Il Mercante di Venezia Shakespeare, Archètipo Company Palazzo Pitti, Grotta del Buontalenti, €9 box office, www.archetipoac.it, info 0556530729, 21.30 chestra Cantica Nova Music by Bach, Beethoven, Mozart See July 3, 9.30 pm 10 What’s on & Where to Go Thursday 29 June 2006 Events in FLORENCE JUN 30 TO JUL 13 n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) n MUSIC & CONCERTS Il Mercante di Venezia Shakespeare, Archètipo company See July 3 Il visitatore Teatro del Sale, via dei Macci 111r, [email protected], info 055 2001492, 21.30 Sergio Ricci Cabaret Piazzale Michelangelo, www.comune.fi.it, info 055-27681, 22.31 WEDNESDAY 5 n LECTURES & CONFERENCES Celebration to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Elizabeth Barrett Browning Events at the Harold Acton Library 5th July (last Cultural Program lecture) British Institute of Florence, Lungarno Guicciardini 9, tel. 055.26778270, free admission,15.00 Reading of ‘Casa Guidi Windows’ poem 17.00 Visit to Casa Guidi, piazza San Felice, 8, 18.00 Lecture ‘An Old Yellow Book: the death and burial of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’ given by Sister Julia Bolton Holloway TVJ The Virtual Job European project TVJ for the online job research Piazza Ghiberti (S. Ambrogio area) www. firenzesummerfest.it, 19.00 n MUSIC & CONCERTS The Parsons Dance Company 17° Florence Dance Festival Teatro Romano, via Portigiani 1, Fiesole, info 055-289276, www.florencedance.org, Circuito Box Office, 9.15 pm n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) Il visitatore See July 4 Andrea Agresti Cabaret Piazzale Michelangelo, www.comune.fi.it, info 055-27681, 22.30 THURSDAY 6 n CINEMA The Lake House Odeon CineHall, piazza Strozzi, tel. 055.214068, www.cinehall.it, Shows 6.008.15-10.30 pm n DANCE Flamenco Show by ‘Fundaciòn Flamenca Andaluza’ Academy of Flamenco Dance A.C.F.Art Center Florence, Via Ghibellina 92r, tel. 055 2478864, 5 PM, www.artcenterflorence.it n GUIDED TOURS Special Opening of Maria Maddalena de’ Medici’s Corridor, The Medici Month www.mesemediceo.it, info 055-6120205, ¬ 10, 2 Walking to Forte Belvedere, discovering the Florentine “Coasts” Tour by Akropolis cultural association meeting point on Ponte Vecchio at Cellini place, 21.00 to 22.30 info 055.461428 Florence free tours with Ataf Five extraordinary nights with Florence Art, Florence free tours with Ataf, to celebrate the 60th company birthday, ATAF offers free guided tour to Florence main masterpiece for the holder of Agile Card, and of the new Firenze Passepartour ATAF, tel. 0552710765, www.ataf.net n LECTURES & CONFERENCES Mozart, Schumann, Shostakovich Musical Moments. Meeting July 6 at 5 pm, Villa Schifanoia, Fiesole, info 055409373, www.nuovieventimusicali.org n MARKETS & FESTIVALS Flower market Via Pellicceria, only in the morning www.theflorentine.net Nassrin Oltrarno Street Festival piazza della passera, info 055-2645356, 21.30 Carmen Opera Festival 2006 Giardino di Boboli, p.za Pitti, www.festivalopera.it, info 055-5979005, 21:00 sale at Box Office Fafà de Belem Saschall, Lungarno A. Moro 3, 42€ box office, 21.30 10ª O Flos Colende Sacred music concert Battistero e Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, info 055-2302885, ore 21.15 free Stefano Scodanibbio, The sound of the soul Museo Marino Marini, p.za S. Pancrazio, www.firenzestate.com, info 055-695000, 21.00, free n SPORTS & ACTIVITIES n SPORTS & ACTIVITIES Six-nation sports fishing trophy Trofeo See July 7 Fiorentina Baseball VS Rangers Baseball Club Game 1 at 3.30 pm, Game 2 at 8.30 pm Cerreti Baseball Stadium , Viale Manfredo Fanti 18 n SUMMER NIGHTS Florence as it was Special opening, Le Notti dell’Archeologia Museo Storico Topografico, via dell’Oriuolo 24, info 055 2616545, gestione. musei@comune.fi.it, 21,00-24,00 Collection of Egyptian archeological artifacts Special opening, Le Notti dell’Archeologia Museo Stibbert, via Federico Stibbert 26, tel. 055.486069, www.comune.fi.it, 21,0024,00, reduced entrance price n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) Trotting race See July 2 Niki Giustini Cabaret Piazzale Michelangelo, www.comune.fi.it, info 055-27681, 22.33 FRIDAY 7 n LECTURES & CONFERENCES SUNDAY 9 n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) Accademia dei Georgofili, lectures and seminars/workshops July 7 Accademia dei Georgofili, Logge Uffizi Corti, info 055212114, www.georgofili.it n MARKETS & FESTIVALS All Out, Watermelon party Centro Commerciale Naturale Borgo La Croce Piazza Beccarla, info 055.2767621, 19.00-23.00 S. Spirito Fair Piazza S. Spirito info 055-3283550 n MUSIC & CONCERTS Micha Van Hoecke Ensemble 17° Florence Dance Festival See July 5 10ª O Flos Colende Mozart Concert, Chorus Sine Nomine Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, p.za Duomo, info 055-2302885, 21.15 free n SPORTS & ACTIVITIES Six-nation sports fishing trophy Austria, Germany, Luxemburg, Holland, Switzerland and Italy Arno River, Via Sogliani (on the left side of Ponte alla Vittoria) Paolo Migone Cabaret Piazzale Michelangelo, www.comune.fi.it, info 055-27681, 22.33 MONDAY 10 n CINEMA The Da Vinci Code Odeon CineHall, piazza Strozzi, tel. 055.214068, www.cinehall.it, Shows 6.309.30pm n MUSIC & CONCERTS Piano Recital Giardino di Boboli, p.za Pitti, Grotta del Buontalenti, www.festivalopera.it, info 0555979005 / 210804, Box Office for tickets,21.00 Simone Graziano Trio Jazz Piazza Ghiberti (S. Ambrogio area) www. firenzesummerfest.it, 19.00 n SPORTS & ACTIVITIES Trotting race See July 2 n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) Il Mercante di Venezia Shakespeare, Archètipo Company See July 2 La Bettola Toscana Show Cabaret Rampe di Piazza Poggi , San Niccolò, www.firenzestate.com, info 349-2384360, 22.00 Come in America Show details on www.zauberteatro.com Arno river, starting from Piazza Mentana, www.renaioli.it, info 055-5000640 SATURDAY 8 n GUIDED TOURS UNITED 93 Odeon CineHall, piazza Strozzi, tel. 055.214068, www.cinehall.it, Shows 6.008.15-10.30 pm The Rolling Stones: time is in our side (let’s spend the night together) CINETECA DI FIRENZE via reginaldo giuliani 357, info 055,450749, 21,45, 5€ Baluardo at San Giorgio Medici Month Florence under attack: the battle of 1529 and the city defense. Tour guide by Cristina Porciani. Forte di Belvedere, Porta S. Giorgio, www. mesemediceo.it, info 055-6120205, € 6,00, 11:00 n MUSIC & CONCERTS Symphonic Orchestra, City of Grosseto Classical music Chiesa di Orsanmichele, Via Calzaiuoli, info 055-210804 / 783374 tickets at Box Office, 21 n PARKS Archeological Nights Special free opening of monuments garden and Archaeological Museum Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Via della Colonna 38, Info 055 23575, sat@comune. firenze.it, 20.00-24.00 TUESDAY 11 n CINEMA n DANCE Excalibur Stories Presented by Florence Dance Company Park of Stibbert Museum, via di Montughi 7, Poggetto, tel. 055.486069, www.comune. fi.it, 21.30 Prenotazione obbligatoria n GUIDED TOURS Cenacolo di San’Apollonia Tour by Akropolis cultural association meeting point via XXVII Aprile 1, 10,00 info 055.461428 n MUSIC & CONCERTS Il Suono dell’Utopia Music by Mozart and Prokofiev See July 3, 9 pm Tuscan Tour of the Orchestra “La Sinfonetta” from Geneva Opers by Vivaldi, Sibelius, Mozart, Binet and Gounod “Estate in Peretola”, Piazza di Santa Maria, Firenze, ore 21,15 Choir Concert Award-winning concert preformed by the Canatarè Chorus from Alberta, Canada Chiesa S. Maria de Ricci, www.cantarechildrenschoir.org, 7 pm, free Philip Glass “Works for Solo Piano and Orchestra” Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra Piazza della Signoria, info 055-2625955, 21.30 free The Elegant Gipsy Trio Rampe di Piazza Poggi , San Niccolò, www.firenzestate.com, info 349-2384360, 22.00 Musipolitana, Music from Senegal, the Ivory Coast, Iran, Romania, Cuba, Perù piazza della passera, info 055-2645356, 21.30 The Elegant Gipsy Trio Popular music Rampe di Piazza Poggi , San Niccolò, www.firenzestate.com, info 349-2384360, 22.00 n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) Come in America See July 10 Masti Show (games and jokes) Estate alle Piagge 2006 Cabaret Le Piagge , Piazzetta del Centro Commerciale, info 055-2767033, 21.15 free Volo in cinque tempi Street theatre Piazza Ghiberti (S. Ambrogio area) www. firenzesummerfest.it, 19.00 L’elisir di Caterina Show and banquet Hotel Relais Certosa, www.mesemediceo. it, info 055-6120205, € 35, 21.15 WEDNESDAY 12 n CINEMA The Rolling Stones: Time is in our side (let’s spend the night together) See July 11 n DANCE Excalibur Stories See July 11 Romeo and Juliet Forte di Belvedere, info 055.2779241, 21:30 (also on 14, 15 and 19 July) n MUSIC & CONCERTS Litfiba Ippodromo del Visarno, entrance dal Viale della Catena, [email protected], 22.00 Badara Seck, Mauro Pagani, Massimo Ranieri Grand Ensemble Piazza della Signoria, info 055-2625955, 21.30 free Musipolitana See July 11 n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) Come in America See July 10 THURSDAY 13 n CINEMA RV: Runaway Vacation Odeon CineHall, piazza Strozzi, tel. 055.214068, www.cinehall.it, Shows 6.008.15-10.30 pm n DANCE Excalibur Stories See July 11 n GUIDED TOURS Special Opening of Maiano Villa, The Medici Month www.mesemediceo.it, info 055-6120205, www.theflorentine.net 11 What’s on & Where to Go Thursday 29 June 2006 Events in FLORENCE n LECTURES & CONFERENCES 40th Anniversary of Flood «I too was there» interviews with people who lived through the flood experience July 13 at 9p.m, Sede Albereta, piazza Ravenna info tel. 0556585128, www.comune. fi.it n MUSIC & CONCERTS Note Noire Jazz Rampe di Piazza Poggi , San Niccolò, www.firenzestate.com, info 349-2384360, 22.00 Luca Pirozzi Accordi and Disaccordi trio piazza della passera, info 055-2645356, 21.30 n SPORT & ACTIVITIES Trotting race See July 2 ONGOING n COMPETITION 1.000 euro per 1 minute Competition open to videos no longer than one minute, titles included. Deadline June 30, Videominuto PopTV, Festival Office, via del Rosso Fiorentino 2b, tel. 055.7399981, www.videominuto.it, the chosen videos will be shown at Centro per l’Arte Contemporanea Luigi Pecci in Prato on September 9 Pencils for Peace A national competition for young cartoonists ages 14-30 Deadline August 31, info www.scuolacomics.it, tel. 055.218950 or www.portalegiovani.comune.fi.it, tel. 055.218310 n DANCE Danz&state 2006: summer ballet Dance performances and competition by international choreographers June 26-July 8, 21.00, Teatro della Limonaia di Villa Strozzi, via Pisana 77, tel. 055.351530, www.danzatoscana.it Callas MaggioDanza Until 9 august, Teatro Comunale, Corso Italia 16, info 199.112112, 20.30 n EXHIBITS Passaggi – Passages Painting exhibition by Antonio Biancalani Until July 29, Galleria Falteri, via della Spada 38r, tel. 055217740, www.falteri.it Matthew Spender Sculpture Exhibit Until 21 August, Badia Fiesolana, Basilica di Sant’Alessandro, Area Archeologica, Museo Archeologico, Fiesole, info 800414240 www.fiesolemusei.it Pedalando nel tempo Pedaling throughout time An exhibit of antique bicycles in the new ground-floor exhibition space of the Museum. Until December 31, Mon-Sat 9.30-17, Tues 9.30-13, 2nd Sun of the month 10-13, Museo di Storia della Scienza, piazza dei Giudici 1, tel. 055.265311, www.imss.fi.it The Dreams of a Queen Until July 9, Mon-Wed 10-14, Fri-Sun 1018, Museo Stibbert, via Federico Stibbert 26, tel. 055.486069, www.comune.fi.it Incontri Mediterranei / Mediterranean Encounters Until October 10, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, via della Colonna 36, tel. 055.294883, www.firenzemusei.it/archeologica Rifiuti Preziosi, Il Nouveau Réalisme e la cultura contemporanea An art exhibit with recyclable materials and junk art: Nouveau Realism and contemporary culture Until June 30, Palazzo Strozzi, Piazza Strozzi, tel. 055.2776461, www.palazzostrozzi. info, 10-19 Fatti ad Arte A Collection of art work by Antonio lo Pinto, Dontatello Mei, David Palterer, Adriano Persiani, Leda Ratti Until July 15, Spazio 2 Piazza Stozzi, tel. 0552658114 Michelangelo’s “Leda” and the second Florentine Republic Until July 10, 9.30-14, Casa Buonarroti , via Ghibellina 70, tel. 055.241752 Man from the Renaissance Until July 23, 9-20, Palazzo Strozzi, Piazza Strozzi, tel. 055.2776461, www.palazzostrozzi.info Vu d’Italie 1841-1941 Until June 30, 10-20, Museo Stibbert, via Federico Stibbert 26, tel. 055.486069, www.comune.fi.it Arte e Manifattura di corte a Firenze. Dal tramonto dei Medici all’Impero (1732-1815) Until November 5, Palazzo Pitti, piazza Pitti 1, tel. 055.294883 Lorenzo Monaco: dalla tradizione giottesca al Rinascimento Until September 24, 8.15-18.50, Galleria dell’Accademia, via Ricasoli 50, tel. 055.294883, www.polomuseale.firenze.it Mostra di pittori fiorentini neorealisti Until June 30, Palazzo Strozzi, Piazza Strozzi, tel. 055.2776461, www.palazzostrozzi. info Miniatura Umbra del Rinascimento Until June 25, 8.15-13.50, Sat 8.15-18.50, Sun 8.15-19, Museo di San Marco, Piazza San Marco 3 tel. 055.2388608 Photographic Exhibit Il Genio Fiorentino, Organized by the French consulate; photographs to present the extraordinary Florentine journey. Until July 22, Institut Français de Florence, Piazza Ognissanti 2, tel 055 2718801, www.geniofiorentino.it The Mind of Leonardo. Universal Genius at Work Until January 7, 2007, 8.15-19.00, Tues-Sun, Galleria degli Uffizi, Piazzale degli Uffizi, tel. 055.2388651, www.uffizi.firenze.it The Renaissance Man: Leon Battista Alberti Until July 23, 9-20, Fri Until 23.00, Palazzo Strozzi, Piazza Strozzi, tel. 055.2776461, www.palazzostrozzi.info Walk-In A collection of art work from young artists Until June 30, Galleria Alessandro Bagnai, tel. 055.680266 Lights on Chinart Exhibit of Contemporary Chinese Art Until August 31, Palazzo Capponi all ‘Annunziata, Via Gino Capponi 26, tel. 055.242248, www.palazzocapponiallannunziata.it Appesi ad un filo: tessuti espressivi Photos by Giulia Naldini Until July 31, Maison Dumitru, Borgo Pinti 25r, tel. 055.7189417 Sculpture by Vincenzo Chiazza Until June 30, Limonaia di villa Strozzi, via Pisana 77, tel. 055.2767113 The Mystery of the Genesis in the Jorge Jimenez Deredia’s Sculptures Forty sculptures made of Carrara white marble and bronze by Jorge Jiménez Deredia (Costa Rican). Until September 30, closed 1st and last Mon of the month, €7, Boboli Gardens, Piazza Pitti, tel. 055-2298732, www.ilmisterodellagenesi.com Behind the the big curtain a group of painters kept on working…… June 16-July 7, Mon-Fri 18-20, Sat-Sun 1316, Atelier Rebecca Harp, piazza della Repubblica 3, 3rd floor Garden in Tuscany Photography by Massimo Listri Until July 17, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Via Cavour 1, info 055.4382638, 9.00-19.00 Sculptural studies & Drawings by Roger Phillips Until June 30, Mon-Fri, 9-17, Saci Gallery, Palazzo dei Cartelloni, via sant’Antonino 11 Quasi l’infanzia, i bambini e lo sguardo dell’artista June 20-Sept 17, Palazzo Vecchio, Sala d’Arme, piazza della Signoria,tel. 055.6120467 La sacralità nel quotidiano. Mattew Spender sculptures June 21-August 21, 10-19, Museo e Area Archeologica, via Portigiani 1, info 800 414240, Fiesole Human game. Vincitori e vinti June21-July 23, Stazione Leopolda, viale Fratelli Rosselli 5, tel. 055.212622, www. stazione-leopolda.it New Liberalistic Pleasures Until September 10, Biagiotti Progetto Arte, Via delle Belle Donne 39/r, tel. 055.214757 Firenze 99 Contemporanea Programme of international contemporary art exhibits in the city Until July 30, See www.pittimmagine.com for locations Tre mostre Untill June 30 Centro per l’Arte Contemporanea Luigi Pecci, v.le della Repubblica 277, Prato, tel. 0574.5317, www.centropecci.it Marangoni Student Exhibit Exhibit by second year university students Until June 31, 3-7 pm, FSM gallery, Via San Zanobi 19R, tel 055 280368, exhibitions@ studiomarangoni.it Gravità e luce Marble sculptures by Naoko Kumasaka, Durid Campbell, Lothar Nickel, Jaja Schurch and Franco Scuderi Until July 31, Limonaia di Villa Vogel, via delle Torri 23 , Isolotto, info 055.2625955, www.firenzestate.com, 9.00-12.00 Copti Fabrics From Egiptian Museum of Firenze Until October 22, Museo Casa Siviero, Lungarno Serristori 3, www.cultura.toscana.it/musei/primo_piano/siviero.html, nfo 055.2345219 Lo sguardo dell’innocenza Workshop on creativity an expression, La Tinaia Until July 31, Piazzetta Madonna della Neve, www.latinaia.org info 055-2625955 Passion pour la vie (location 1) Charity exhibit with international artists Until July 30, Museo Diocesano di S. Stefano al Ponte, p.za S. Stefano al Ponte Vecchio 5, www.antoinegaber.com, info 055 292082, free Passion pour la vie (location 2) Charity exhibits with international artists Until July 30, Roof Terrace of Grand Hotel Baglioni, P.za Unità Italiana 6, www.antoinegaber.com, info 055 292082, every day from 5 pm aperitive time Contrappunto Painting exhibition by Lisa Wade July from 3 to 14, SACI Gallery, Palazzo dei Cartelloni, via Sant’antonino 11, tel. 055289948, www.saci-florence.org Stati d’infanzia Photos by Giovanni Santi Until July 28, Limonaia di villa Strozzi, via Pisana 77, tel. 055.2767113 Equilibrio e gioco Sculptures by Beatrice Barni 1996-2006 Until July 28, Museo Marino Marini , p.za S. Pancrazio, www.museomarinomarini.it , info 055.486049, 10.00-17.00, €4 n GUIDED TOURS Itinerari e Incontri Guided visits, book presentations, and conferences Associazione Akropolis, Info 055461428, http://it.geocites.com/associazione_akropolis, all year Museo Bandini Until October 31, 9.30-19, Fiesole, via Duprè 1 Restoration of the cycle of frescoes by A. Gaddi in the Cappella Maggiore Until December 31, Fri and Sat at 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16; Sun at 14, 15, 16, Chiesa di Santa Croce Artisans of the Oltrarno, in search of artistic craftsmanship Genuine Florentine artisan traditions Info 055.3036108, www.firenze-oltrarno. net, all year Hortibus Collection & Garden tours Starting point: piazza S.Trinita, every Thur and Sat at 15.00, info 348.9100783, www. hortibus.com, € 25, all year n MARKETS & FESTIVALS Mercato San Lorenzo Florentine crafts, hand-made embroidery, paper, leather etc Streets around Basilica San Lorenzo, every day, all day JUN 30 TO JUL 13 Ciompi Antique fair Piazza de’ Ciompi, tel. 055.3283550, every week day and last Sunday of the month Mercato del Porcellino Florentine crafts with straw, hand-made embroidery, leather, woodwork,and flowers Logge del Porcellino, every day, all day Accoglienza attraverso l’Arte Evening meetings for expat residents of Florence Until June 30, MUDI Museo degli Innocenti, Piazza S.S. Annuziata 12, tel. 0552037308 Mercatini equosolidali Hop “Cavalca la Notte” - 1ª ed Until August 6, Ippodromo del Visarno Viale della Catena, davanti alle Pavoniere, Info: [email protected], 18.00 63th Pitti Immagine Bimbo Children’s wear and accessories collections. Access reserved to professionals within the sector from 30th June to 2nd July, Fortezza da Basso, tel. 05549721, www.pittimmagine. com Il Mese Mediceo Until July 31, www.mesemediceo.it 59th Pitti Immagine Filati Yarn’s Fair. Access reserved to operators from 5th to 7th July, Fortezza da Basso, tel. 05549721, www.pittimmagine.com Vintage Selection The Vintage Clothing, Accessories and Designer Objects Fair from 5th to 8th July, Stazione Leopolda, p.le di Porta al Prato, www.pittimmagine. com, info 055-212622, free, from 10am to 10pm Festa Regionale de l’Unità Politics, music and cuisine July 13-Aust 12, Fortezza da Basso, info 055.503201 n MUSIC & CONCERTS Organ and instrumental concerts Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Ricci, via del Corso, tel. 055.289367, all year, Mon-Sun 21.15, Sat 18.00, €11 Concerts at St. Mark’s English Church The “Orpheus Ensemble” presents sacred music, Italian opera arias and Neapolitan Songs with piano and voice St. Mark’s English Church, Via Maggio 1618, tel 340.8119192, every day at 21.15, €15, for The Florentine readers € 10 (Mondays free piano recital) I “Maggi” Fiorentini Classical music La Limonaia” del Giardino Bardini info 0552768520, Fry and Sat 18:00 Florence International Music Festival Until July 21, www.il-trillo.com, info 0552341049, free Danz&state 2006 Summer ballet. Choreography prize From June 26 to July 8 ( prize: June 30, July 1, 2), Teatro della Limonaia di Villa Strozzi, via Pisana, tel. 055 351530, www.danzatoscana.it Oltrarno Street Festival Until July 28, piazza della passera, info 0552645356, 21.30 8th International Festival of European Youth Orchestras Firenzestate 2006 July 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 20, 27*, 30*, Piazza San Lorenzo and *= Chiesa Santo Stefano al Ponte, Piazza de’ Saltarelli, tel. 055597026, www.florenceyouthfestival.com La Traviata Opera Festival 2006 from 6th to 27th July, Giardino di Boboli, p.za Pitti, www.festivalopera.it, info 0555979005, 21:00 sale at Box Office Colori del Mondo, Concerts Firenzestate 2006 July 8, 11, 23; Area Pettini Burresi, via Faentina 145, tel. 0552767828, www.firenzestate.com Concerts of the Chamber Orchestra 26th concert season 2006 July 10, 11, 20*, 21*, 24*, 28*, Chiesa di Orsanmichele, Cortile del Museo Nazionale del Bargello, tel. 055783374, www.orcafi.it 12 What’s on & Where to Go Thursday 29 June 2006 Events in FLORENCE n SPORTS & ACTIVITIES Navigating on the Arno River under Ponte Vecchio Rowing on the Arno from June to October, starting point: Lungarno A.M. de’ Medici and Lungarno Generale Diaz, tel. 347 7982 356, www.renaioli.it SabbiaVolo 2006 Beach volley Tournament until July 20, Sesto Fiorentino e Signa, info 340.6818657, a:[email protected], www. sabbiavolo.altervista.org, Untill 20 July, Beach Pro Beach volley competition From 13rd to 27th July, Piazzale Michelangelo, info 340.6818657, a:sabbiavolo@libero. it, www.sabbiavolo.altervista.org n SUMMER NIGHTS Meridiani e Paralleli Until September 10, every day from 17.00 to 1.00, Piazza Indipendenza Parco e Piscina Le Pavoniere Music, shows, DJ sessions, live performances, fashion, pool, food & cocktails Until September 24, from 20.00, Le Pavoniere, parco delle Cascine, on Sunday latin music Summerfest2006 Music, theatre and more Until September 9, every evening, Piazza Ghiberti (S. Ambrogio area), www.firenzesummerfest.it Parco sud Music, cinema, dance, games for children, food Until September 9, every day all day, Parco dell’Anconella, via di Villamagna Rime Rampanti Music, dance, theatre, games, DJ sets, food and drinks Until September 3, every evening from 19.00, Rime di piazza Poggi Easy Living in Santo Spirito Live Music, Bar, cocktails, free wireless access all over the Piazza. Until September 10, Piazza Santo Spirito, www.piazzart.com, info 3400713410, every evening Summer nights 2006. La Vasca at the Fortezza Live music, bar, dj Until September 10, Fortezza da Basso, Viale Filippo Strozzi, tel. 055-2767621, www.firenzestate.com, free Il suono dell’anima Firenzestate 2006 Until September, Chiesa di S. Gaetano, Museo del Bargello, tel. 055.2625955, www.firenzestate.it Estaz Events happening throughout the summer including musical performances, films and viewing of the World Cup. Until July 26, every day, STAZ - Stazione di Confine, via Attavante 5, tel. 055.7320812, www.stazionediconfine.it Spettacoli itineranti sul fiume Theatre performances aboard small boats on the Arno June 6-July 7, info & booking 055.5000640, www.zauberteatro.com, starting point piazza mentana, €20 Hop “Cavalca la Notte” Music, sports and food Until August 6, from 18.00 every evening, Ippodromo del Visarno, Parco delle Cascine, info http://hopcavalcalanotte.blogspot.com FirenzEstate 06 in Santissima Annunziata Music, theatre and more Until September 6, every evening, Piazza Santissima Annunziata Reading Don Chisciotte Firenzestate 2006 June 9-July 6, Chiostro delle Oblate, via S. Egidio 21, 21.30, from Mon to Fri. Free but invitation compulsury. Go to l’Assessorato alla Cultura del Comune di Firenze, Via Ghibellina 30. Tel 055.2625955 or to Compagnia Lombardi Tiezzi, via Domenico Maria Manni 55, tel. 055.600218 Estate a San Salvi Theatre, dance, music, etc. Until September 10, every day, Area San Sanvi, via S. Salvi 12, tel. 055.6236195, www.chille.it Di tutti i colori www.theflorentine.net JUN 30 TO JUL 13 Theatre, skateboarding and exhibit on Bartali Until July 31, every day, Piazza Bartali Cure allo scoperto Events every night, music, outdoor bar, computer corner June 16-July 29, from 18.00, Spazio Giovani Cure, via Faentina 145, tel. 055.5522816, www.spaziocure.it Estate freschi Music, theatre, sport & show Until July 30, every day, Area Pettini Burresi, via Faentina 154 Ballo Liscio e Vernacolo show Until September at 9pm, Giardini di Bellariva, lungarno Aldo Moro, tel. 055.2767822 Summer at Demidoff Villa. Theatre and music shows from June to September, Parco Mediceo di Pratolino info 055409155, www.provincia. fi.it n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) Shows on Arno. Onboard of the ancient boats of Renaioli Untill 1st August, Arno river, starting from Piazza Mentana, www.renaioli.it, info 0555000640 �20, 21.15 L’Elsa di sangue The Medici Month June 29-July 9, 21.00, Mura di Firenze, Baluardo di San Giorgio, Forte di Belvedere, www.mesemediceo.it La Parola al teatro Firenzestate 2006 Until September, info & booking 055.2625955, www.firenzestate.it Villa Fabbricotti Estate 2006 Theatre shows Until July 29, Villa Fabbricotti, via V.Emanuele II n.64, Prenotazioni tel. 0555000640 (Bus n.4) . Info Q.5 tel. 0552767045, www.zauberteatro.com ImprovvisaMente Atti o Scene in luogo pubblico July 3, 6, 10; Area Pettini Burresi, via Faentina 145, tel. 0552767828, www.firenzestate.com CHILDREN n EXHIBITS I bambini raccontano la Preistoria Exhibition of works by primary school children from Florence, Prato and Pistoia Until June 30 Museo Fiorentino di Preistoria “P. Graziosi”- tel. 055295159 n GUIDED TOURS Il Giardino di Archimede, Mathematics Sundays Guided visits and surprise events at the Museum Il Giardino di Archimede, Museo per la Matematica, via S. Bartolo a Cintoia 19, tel. 055.7879594, www.archimede.ms, on the first Sunday of every month n MUSIC & CONCERTS July for children Theatre shows for children from June 30 to July 19, Campi Bisenzio, Parco Iqbal info 05 58959318, www.comune.campi-bisenzio.fi.it n SPORTS & ACTIVITIES The little joiner’s shop Workshop to create wooden games, develops creativity and dexterity. For children age 4 to 10 Il Cappello di Merlino, via Mazzetta 14r, tel. 055.264471, every Wed, 17.00 The amazing circus of Merlin the Wizard Workshop to create circus equipment. For children ages 4 to 11 Il Cappello di Merlino, via Mazzetta 14r, tel. 055.264471, every Thur, 17.00 The world through the senses Experimenting with the senses (taste, sight, hearing, touch, smell) through games and book-readings. For children ages 2 to 5. Il Cappello di Merlino, via Mazzetta 14r, tel. 055.264471, every Fri, 17.00 Artisti in erba Free painting lessons outdoors June 8-July 1, Tues & Thurs, Villa Favard, via Aretina 511, tel. 055.2767822 Ludoteca Il Castoro Every Monday: Let’s Play Together, Every Tuesday: Handicraft lab and painting with Chiara, Every Wednesday: Let’s Use the Videocamera, Every Thursday: inventing and acting out stories, Every Friday: fun and games in English, Every day: book loaning and story-time for children and parents c/o Ludoteca Il Castoro, Via U. della Faggiola 68/A (Scuola Villani), tel. 055.6810517 Le statue stele Workshops for children and adults, Le Notti dell’Archeologia Museo Fiorentino di Preistoria, via San Egidio 21,info@museofiorentinopreistoria.it tel. 055.295159, 9,30-12,30 free reservations required Gli strumenti musicali nella preistoria Workshops for children and adults, Le Notti dell’Archeologia Museo Fiorentino di Preistoria, via San Egidio 21, info@museofiorentinopreistoria.it tel. 055.295159, 14,00-17,00 free reservations required Segni della Preistoria Workshops for children and adults, Le Notti dell’Archeologia Museo Fiorentino di Preistoria, via San Egidio 21, info@museofiorentinopreistoria.it, info 055.295159, 14,00-17,00 free reservations required La semina e la panificazione nella preistoria Workshops for children and adults, Le Notti dell’Archeologia Museo Fiorentino di Preistoria, via San Egidio 21, info@museofiorentinopreistoria.it tel. 055.295159, 9.30-12.30 free reservations required n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) Puppet show Il Cappello di Merlino, via Mazzetta 14r, tel. 055.264471, every Sat, 17.00 Favole al Boschetto Stories from the great tradition of fairy-tales Il Boschetto, via di Soffiano 11, Legnaia, info 055.700026, €8 senior, 5€ children, 21.30 OUT OF TOWN n COMPETITION Scrivo per sport Contest to select films that have sports in Prato as their theme. Deadline July 15, Concorso Scrivo per Sport, Comune di Prato, Assessorato allo Sport, via Migliorati 1, Prato, info 0574.1836484, 800.058850, 0574.401376 n COURSES Arteinscena Musical laboratory Dance and singing enrollment to [email protected] or fax (0574/445580) o at Teatro Politeama Pratese, Via G. Garibaldi 33 Prato n EXHIBITS David Smithson & Bach Backwards Until July 30, 10-19, Centro per l’Arte Contemporanea Luigi Pecci, v.le della Repubblica 277, Prato, tel. 0574.5317 Omissis by Marco Neri Until July 30, 10-19, closed Mon, Tues, Centro per l’Arte Contemporanea Luigi Pecci, v.le della Repubblica 277, Prato, tel. 0574.5317 Primo Piano Words, Art, Actions, Music, a collection of live art. Over 400 pieces capturing the artistic movements of the 60’s and 70’s. June 14-September 18, Centro Arte Contemporanea Pecci, Viale della Repubblica 277, Prato, tel. 05745317, www.centroartepecci.prato.it, Closed Mon/Tues, Wed-Thur 10-18.30, €5 Intrecci mediterranei Fabrics from 11th to 17th centuries Until September 30, Wed-Fri 10-18, Sat 10-14, Sun 16-19, Tue closed, Museo del Tessuo, via santa chiara 24, Prato, 0574 611503, www.museodetessuto.it, 4€ Vivere da Etrusco Exhibit of Le Notti dell’Archeologia Museo Archeologico di Artimino, Prato, info 055-8712468 www.cultura.toscana.it/musei.htm Primo Piano Words, Art, Actions, Music, a collection of live art. Over 400 pieces capturing the artistic movement of the 60’s and 70’s. June 14-September 18, Centro Arte Contemporanea Pecci, Viale della Repubblica 277, Prato, tel. 05745317, www.centroartepecci.prato.it, Closed Mon/Tues, Wed-Thur 10-18.30, €5 n GUIDED TOURS Guided tours in the Natural Reserve of Fucecchio marsh Padule di Fucecchio, tel. 0573.84540, Until June on weekends , www.zoneumidetoscane.it/eventi/padeventi.html On the Scaffolding with Filippo Lippi Visits to the restoration of Filippo Lippi’s fresco (max 12 persons) Cattedrale di Santo Stefano, piazza del Duomo, Prato, tel. 0574.24112, www.restaurofilippolippi.it, by reservation only, every Sat at 10, 11, 16, 17, Sun at 10, 11, €8 Guided walking tours around Calenzano From April to October, info 055.8833255, www.comune.calenzano.fi.it On the Scaffolding with Filippo Lippi Visits to the restoration of Filippo Lippi’s fresco (max 12 persons) every Sat at 10, 11, 16, 17, Sun at 10, 11, €8, Cattedrale di Santo Stefano, piazza del Duomo, Prato, tel. 0574.24112, www. restaurofilippolippi .it, by reservation only Abbey of San Salvatore and San Lorenzo a Settimo Every Wed, Fri 10-12, Sun 15.30-18, closed July and Aug, Badia a Settimo, Scandicci, tel. 055.7310537, www.badiadisettimo.it The Ceramics of Montelupo Free guided visits of Archaeology and Ceramics Museum and participation in workshops Every Thur from 10.00 to 14.00, Museo Archeologico e della Ceramica, Montelupo Fiorentino, tel. 0571.518993 Wine and Fashion in the Florentine Mountains. Itineraries with guided visits, shopping Tours to discover the beauty of the Florentine Mountains. Visits to artisan workshops and local shopping centres All year Mon and Sat, Resco Travel, tel. 055.868009 walking in Val D’orcia (Siena) unitll 30 November, info and booking 0577 351302 www.dimenicainchianti.it, 7€ Sunday in Chianti unitll 30 october, info and booking 0577 898303 www.parcodellavaldorcia.com, 8€ The Valley of Treasures Guided visits to the Jerusalem of San Vivaldo Montaione, San Vivaldo info 0571699252 www.piccoligrandimusei.it Camminata Etrusca From Tumulo di Montefortini to the necropolis of Prato Rosello, special tour of the burial ground, archeological sites and Museum of Artimio Carmignano, Prato, 8.00, reservations required within 30/6 at 055-8712468 www. cultura.toscana.it/musei.htm Sito di Gonfienti, Le Notti dell’Archeologia Guided visit of the restoration workshop of the artifacts discovered in the Etruscan city of Gonfienti Area archeologica di Gonfienti, Prato, [email protected], info 0574 615025/615028, ore 17.00 Guided walking tours Calenzano tel. 0558833255, www.comune.calenzano.fi.it n MARKETS & FESTIVALS Week-end of July 1-2 Marea Music, games festival, meetings June 19-July 2, Buca di Sant’Andrea, www. marea.fucecchio.it Open shops under the stars Shows, food tasting June-September on Wednesday, Dicomano historical center San Casciano Sempreaperta Performances and shops will stay open June, July on Thursday evening San Cascino city center, tel. 055.8229558 www.theflorentine.net 13 What’s on & Where to Go Thursday 29 June 2006 Events in FLORENCE Mercantia Music and theatre festival with market in the castle of Certaldo July from 11 to 16, Certaldo Alto, info 0571661259, www.mercantiacertaldo.com Open shops under the stars Shows, food tasting Until September on Wed, Dicomano, info 055 838541 Ficattola food festival from June 24 to July 2 Fornacette Montespertoli tel. 0571657087, www.comune. montespertoli.fi.it Festival of duck food June 29- July 16, Circolo ARCI, Cerreto Guidi Festival in two villages June 29-July 9, S. Pancrazio, tel. 055.8229558 Beef steack food festival from june 30th to July 2nd, Fucecchio, Contrada Borgonovo tel. 0571268264, www. comune.fucecchio.fi.it I sapori dell’Etruria Wine tasting and specialty sweets and cookies from Etruria to nowadays Prato Comeana, Piazza Battisti, 21.30 Mercantico. Evening antique market July 9 palazzuolo sul senio tel. 0558046008, www.palazzuolo.it Viale di notte. Handicraft, antique, second-hand good market first and second week in July VINCI, Sovigliana tel. 0571568012, www.comune.vinci.fi.it Tortello (filled pasta) and ricotta food festival July 1, 2 Palazzuolo, Casa del Villeggiante tel. 0558046008, www.palazzuolo.it Mushroom food festival July 1, 2 Reggello, Cascia tel. 0558669232, www.comune.reggello.fi.it Festival on the river Arno with games and shows for children the first and second week in July Sovigliana Viale Togliatti tel. 0571568012, www.comune.vinci.fi.it Snail food festival July 1, 2 Vinci Loc. Spicchio tel. 0571568012, www.comune.vinci.fi.it Special general market July 2, Piazza del Mercato Nuovo, Prato Aprilante market first Sunday of the month, Panzano in Chianti, info 0558545271, www.comune. greve-in-chianti.fi.it Antique and collector market first Sunday of the month Scarperia info 0558468165, www.comune.scarperia.fi.it Antique and flea market every first Sunday of the month Sesto Fiorentino info 0554496357, www.comune. sesto-fiorentino.fi.it Threshing festival July from 3 to 9 Sesto Fiorentino Piazza Vittorio Veneto tel. 0554496357, www.comune.sesto-fiorentino.fi.it Handicraft market July 4 Montaione, info 0571699254, www. comune.montaione.fi.it Bugie-Lies with Andrea Kaemmerle and Adriano Miliani Music and theatre shows with food sampling July 6, Castelfiorentino, Villa di Cambiano, info 0571 686338, www.comune.castelfiorentino.fi.it The village on Thursday Shows in the centre July 6, 13, 20, 27, Borgo S. Lorenzo, info 055 849661, www.comune.borgo-sanlorenzo.fi.it Week-end of July 8-9 Viale di notte. Handicraft, antique, second-hand good market first and second week in July VINCI, Sovigliana tel. 0571568012, www.comune.vinci. fi.it Dante the Ghibelline. Traditional Festival July 8, 9San Godendo info. 0558373826, www.comune.san-godenzo.fi.it Hobby Senio. Antique and collector market July, August on Tuesday evening palazzuolo sul senio tel. 0558046008, www.palazzuolo.it Pazza fresca festa 2006 from June 10 to July 30 on weekends Incisa Valdarno tel. 0558333443, www.comune. incisa-valdarno.fi.it July fair in Romola July 11 La Romola tel. 0558229558, www. comune.san-casciano-val-di-pesa.fi.it Boulevard by night. Food market and shows July 12 Vinci Sovigliana Viale Togliatti tel. 0571568012, www.comune.vinci.fi.it La Madia dei Sapori. Typical food product show July 13 Castello di Poppiano tel. 05716001, www.comune.montespertoli.fi.it Ludorium Dies. Palio della Brocca dell’Alleanza. Festival in medieval costumes July from 13 to 23, Londa tel. 0558352531, www.comune.londa.fi.it n MUSIC & CONCERTS Bayern Open Space Live Music Bayern, Piazza del Mercato Nuovo, Prato, tel. 057424120, www.bayernprato.com, 22.20, June 1-30 Music at Palazzo Pretorio Concerts with guided tours and typical Tuscan dinner every Tuesday Until September, Palazzo Pretorio, Certaldo, tel. 0571.661276 Festival delle Colline Modern music June-July in different places around Prato, programme info 0574-5317 www.centroartepecci.prato.it RAM, Percussioni, voce e corpo Student drum performances July 1, Il Frantoio Parco Corsini, Fucecchio, info. 0571 261143, www.comune.fucecchio.fi.it Robert Burke e Simon Starr in concert Jazz sax and bass from Australia July 8, 21.00, free, Monash University, Palazzo Vaj, Via Pugliesi 26, Info 0574-43691 Salotto musicale. Concerts June, July, the first Monday of the month, Sede Pro Lastra Enrico Caruso, Lastra a Signa, tel. 055.8722628 PratoEstate Concerts, performances, events, exhibits, etc. June-September, info: Ass. Cultura Comune di Prato, tel. 0574.615024, www.pratoestate.it La Plaza Pizzeria, bar, viewing of the World Cup, music, other performances and children’s area Until September 1, 9.00-1.00, Argine Bisenzio, Viale Galilei close to Ponte Datini, Prato, info: Anomalia Club, tel. 347.1873223, www.anomaliaclub.it 52nd Festival Puccini Opera festival in Torre del Lago (Lucca) www.puccinifestival.it Marea festival Concerts, theatre, food and market unitll July 2, buca d’andrea, Fucecchio, www.mareafestival.it, 21.00 Concerti al Parco Villa Solaria Free entrance concerts Sesto Fiorentino, Tel 055.26.38.894, info@lenozzedifigaro.it, 21.30 L’estate di S. Francesco Music and performances on the Museum’s terrace from June to August on Thursday, Terrazza del Museo di S. Francesco, Greve in Chianti, tel. 055.8545271 Onda Mediterranea 2006 Philip Catherine, Bert Joris, The Brussels Jazz Orchestra, “MEETING COLOURS” Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, Pontassieve, info 055 8360254, www.pontassievecultura.it, 21,30 pm, 10€ Vivere Jazz Festival 30 june, Pontassieve, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele tel. 800414240, www.estatefiesolana.com L’estate di S. Francesco. Music and shows on the Museum’s terrace from June to August on Thursday, Terrazza del Museo di S. Francesco info 0558545271, Greve, www.comune.grevein-chianti.fi.it Buenos Aires Tango Parco dell’Anconella, Albereta, Via di Villamagna , Gavinana, www.buenosairestango. it, info055-473555 Frankie HI-Nrg July 2, buca d’andrea, Fucecchio, www.mareafestival.it, 21.00 Sergio Cammeriere in concert Castello dell’Imperatore, Prato, Info 05741835021-22 Lights of the town Concerts in cloisters and churches July on Wed, Empoli, info 0571757999, www.comune.empoli.fi.it Violins of Santa Vittoria A special violin concert in the court of an ancient Medici farm in the hills Fattoria di Bacchereto, Carmignano Prato, 2€ On the road festival, Busker meeting July from 6 to 9, PELAGO, info 0558327301-32, www.comune.pelago.fi.it Earth Wheel Sky Band Brass band from Serbia playing music with Rom and Balkan sounds July 10, Festival delle Colline, Castello dell’Imperatore, Prato, 2€ Youssun Dour in concert July 10, Parco di Villa Solaria tel. 0554496357, www.sestoestate.com L’estate di S. Francesco Music and performances on the Museum’s terrace from June to August on Thursday, Terrazza del Museo di S. Francesco, Greve in Chianti, tel. 055.8545271 Carlo Fava Trio July 11, festival delle colline, Castello dell’Imperatore, Piazza S. Maria delle Carceri, Info 0574-1835021-22 The Wild Blue Yonder Multimedia show with tenors July 12, Festival delle Colline, Castello dell’Imperatore, Prato, 2€ Summer in the castle Music, dance, theatre shows July 12, 19, 26 Castelfiorentino, info 0571 686341-8, www.comune.castelfiorentino. fi.it n PARKS Sculptures in a woodland In an untouched wood of ilex and oak trees in the heart of Sienese Chianti, many internationally renowned artists from five continents have created imposing contemporary sculptures Parco sculture del Chianti, La Fornace 48/49, Pievasciata, Siena, tel. 0577.357151, www.chiantisculpturepark.it, open all year Parco Mediceo di Pratolino Theatrical, musical and dance performances, inter-cultural themes. Until October 31, Thur & Fri, Pratolino, Vaglia, info 055.409155, from Thur to Sun 10-19.30 Stato Libero dei Renai This natural oasis offers numerous lakes, ponds, green areas, bird-watching spots, sport facilities, children’s games, a swimming pool, etc Until September 30, Mon-Fri 12:00-20:00, Sat, Sun and holidays 9-20, free, Parco dei Renai, Lastra a Signa, www.parcorenai.it n SPORTS & ACTIVITIES National dog show June 27- July 2, Lago di Bilancino, tel. 055.8418133 Calenzano discovered, walks through history and nature. Guided walking tours from April to October, Calenzano, info 055.8833255 Bicinotturna July 5, Night in Bike in the city (km. 15 trip) at the end watermelon, meeting 21.30 Piazza del Comune Prato Info: Sig. Danilo tel. 339.3477139 Night sailing race July 8 Barberino di Mugello, Lago di Bilancino tel. 0558418133, www.bilancinolagoditoscana.it Duathlon competition July 8, 9 Palazzuolo Piazza del Comune tel. 0558046008, www.palazzuolo.it JUN 30 TO JUL 13 3^ Edition of Barberino Triathlon Lago di Bilancino, Barberino di Mugello, www.firenzetriathlon.it Prato Abetone Bike tourism 9 July,Lega Provinciale Ciclismo UISP Prato, Info: UISP tel. 0574-691133 e-mail [email protected] n SUMMER NIGHTS Estate in villa All July, concerts in Villa Fiorelli, Parco di Galceti Prato, Info tel. 0574.697722 Summer in Sesto June- September, info tel. 055.44961, www.sestoestate.com Summer in Tavarnelle Walking in the centre: performances and market, food tasting in the village June- August, Tavernelle historical center, tel. 055.8077832, www.prolocotavarnelle.it Pieve a Ripoli Festival June & July, Pieve a Ripoli, tel. 0571.55671, www.comune.cerreto-guidi.fi.it Sport festival Until September, San Casciano Val di Pesa, tel. 055.8229558 Montemurlo Estate Cinema, dance, folklore, music, theatre and sport Until September, every day, info Ufficio Cultura Comune di Montemurlo, tel. 0574.558264 Scusa Mario Every night events, music, outdoor bar, disco all summer, via tevere 100, osmannoro sesto fiorentino, info 055 308462, free, from 22.00 Summer in Martignana Until August 22, Martignana (Montespertoli), tel. 0571.676179 Prato Estate 2006 Music, cinema, theatre Until September, info 0574.1835021-22, www.pratoestate.it E...state al Poggio Fairs and performances Until August 26, Poggio alla Croce, Incisa Valdarno, tel. 055.863129 Rassegna musicale Frog Stage 2006 Until August 13, every night, Urban Park, via Ferraris, Prato Classical music concerts in some villas, castles and parish churches Until August 24, info tel. 0571.609412, www.comune. montespertoli.fi.it Poggio In Vetrina Music, dance, shops open until midnight June 22-July 27, Poggio a Caiano, info 055.8796611 Summer in Marcialla. Evening shows and games Until August 20, Marcialla, tel. 0558074101 Festival of two villages June 29-July 9, Lucignano e San Pancrazio, tel. 0571.6001 Summer at Demidoff Villa Theatre, cinema and music shows June- September, Parco Mediceo di Pratolino, Vaglia, tel. 055.409155 Summer festival. Music, cinema, theatre shows July and August, info 055819941 www.comune.firenzuola.fi.it Un giovedì di mezza estate Music, dance, shops open until midnight Pontassieve, info Ufficio Comunicazione 055 8360287, [email protected]. fi.it Un giovedì di mezza estate See July 6 n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) Decamerone July 5, 21,30 Anfiteatro Centro Pecci, Viale della Repubblica 277, Info: 0574-183502122 CCC - Il giardino italiano 6 to 8 July, 21,00, Cortile di Santa Caterina, P.zza S. Domenico 15, Info 0574-183502122 Bisio e le Storie Tese e Elio Sesto Fiorentino, Tel 055.26.38.894, info@lenozzedifigaro.it, 21.30 14 www.theflorentine.net Thursday 29 June 2006 UP CLOSE & PERSONAL life, I’m a basketball fan. I root for the Clippers. An Interview with TF: Who have you trained? GP: I’ve worked with Sylvester Stallone, Penelope Cruz, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez, Bruce Willis, Angelina Jolie, Monica Sellers… Gunnar Peterson ‘Your body is your musical instrument and you have to play it.’ G unnar Peterson is a Beverly Hillsbased personal trainer whose clients include celebrities, professional athletes, and everyday people. He is widely recognized for his expertise in functional training, and his commitment to developing and implementing innovative fitness techniques. With a client list as diverse as his training methods, Gunnar emphasizes strength training modalities that can be transferred from the gym to daily life, from training camp to championship. He has worked with athletes from the NBA, NHL, NFL, USTA, professional boxing and various NCAA sports. Many film and television celebrities who have sought Gunnar’s guidance in preparing for roles have then stayed on to become devoted clients, making him a part of their regular fitness regimen. He is contributing editor for Glamour and has a recurring feature in L.A Confidential magazine. Gunnar is also regularly featured in Allure, Elle, In Style, In Touch, US Weekly and other magazines. His television appearances include The Today Show, CNN, and CNN Headline News. The Florentine had the opportunity to interview Peterson during his recent visit to the International Fitness Festival held in Florence’s Fortezza da Basso. TF: Of all the celebrities you’ve worked with, who has been the most difficult to train? The Florentine: What advice do you have for people who want to be physically fit? Gunnar Peterson: Well, the first thing is to make the right choices at the table and get to enough rest. It’s best to time one’s protein in-take throughout the day and eat small snacks every three hours, because that style of eating is easier on the digestive system. I also always recommend that people consume their foods as close to their natural state as possible. Fruits and vegetables should be eaten early in the day. The same is true of complex carbohydrates, because they provide long term energy. Mostly it’s about creating a healthy lifestyle. You can exercise in front of the TV if you want; you don’t have to go to the gym necessarily. It’s about making full use of your body. Your body is your musical instrument and you have to play it. Exercise improves the quality of life. TF: Is there anything you tell your clients to avoid? � GP: It’s not about avoidance. Certainly, you don’t want to eat junk food in large quantities. But I never tell my clients not to eat something. If I say that, it makes people feel deprived and get on the defensive. TF: What’s your favourite physical activity? GP: It’s hard to believe that there’s anything more exciting than climbing the wall of the Fortezza! But in everyday GP: Anyone who has been sent there by their spouse! � TF: But if you were to name someone specific? GP: Most recently, I’ve worked with Christina Ricci. It’s not that she was difficult to work with, in terms of her personality, but she had been sent by her manager to get in shape for a movie. You can always tell when someone comes by choice and when they are forced to be there. It makes a huge difference. TF: What do you consider the most complete sport? GP: It’s hard to say. You mean for cardiovascular? Volleyball. Football. Boxing or martial arts are great for hand-to-eye co-ordination. Basketball also gives you a full body workout. Swimming is great, but it’s hard for most people and it’s not the best for burning body fat because being in the water cools you down. Tennis is great too, but it depends at what level. For most people, tennis is anaerobic exercise. If you go to a tennis lesson you get a much more complete work out than if you’re playing a match with a friend. When planning personalized workouts for my clients, I have them change exercises all the time. Change keeps their minds engaged. It keeps their bodies guessing. I mean, the same types of exercises are in every work out, but you can change angles, the number of repetitions you do, the position of an exercise in the work out. Even slight change keeps people from getting bored. TF: How long does it take to get in shape if you start with a normal body? GP: What’s a normal body? Someone with an athletic background? Each person is a case in and of themselves. It’s not just about exercise. It’s about water intake and the choices you make in your daily life. A person can see huge changes in four, five, six weeks. It’s not about living like a priest, but you have to want it. All the famous people I mentioned before really wanted it. When Jennifer Lopez started training with me, she would come to workout at five in the morning, before filming on the set all day. TF: What does your typical day look like? GP: I go to bed at 8.30pm and get up at 3.00am. Some people think it’s crazy, but I never said I was perfect! It works for me. It sets me up to do the right thing everyday. I get up early so I can work out. A lot of people say they have no time to keep fit. It’s a choice. I work out one hour a day, every day. Then during training sessions, I show clients two repetitions of each exercise. I have a client who says that I am the best ‘two reps guy in the world.’ TF: What do you think about doping? GP: In an ideal world, it would be great to control drug use in sports. There are guys taking steroids as well as other agents so that the steroids doesn’t show up in the test. Do I think doping has increased recently? Yes, it has. But I don’t think everyone is doing it. But then—we have to decide what you consider doping. Certain things are legal in some sports and illegal in others. TF: How much does it cost to work with you? GP: Less than people end up paying in medical bills when they don’t take care of themselves! 15 www.theflorentine.net Thursday 29 June 2006 Culture & CUSTOMS All of the articles found in the following pages are written by independent collaborators. The Florentine seeks to publish stories that are interesting, entertaining, and useful to all of our readers. If and when a writer expresses opinions within his or her work those opinions should be considered to be those of the writer and not necessarily those of the publishers of this newspaper. If you wish to submit articles for consideration please contact us at redazione@theflorentine.net. ITALIAN VOICES: a window on language and customs in Italy...‘prendere in giro’ ‘In Italy, when we tease a person, it means we hold them in high regard.‘ by Linda Falcone L unch at Lola’s is a true taste of Tuscan theatre. Everyday, my colleagues and I squeeze in the door at half past twelve in efforts to beat our neighbours to the corner table. The menu is written on a paper placemat and hung on the wall weekly, but if we all order different things Lola scolds us for bringing confusion to her brain. Food in Italy always brings about some sort of debate. Now that it’s summer, my colleague Giovanni has taken to ordering an ice-cream sandwich after lunch. Half of it’s chocolate and the other half’s vanilla. There is always suspense at the table before he tears open the wrapper. If he opens it on the chocolate side, it’s destined to be a good day. Vanilla first brings bad luck. After five days of continued dessert-induced suspense, I finally asked him. ‘If you want to eat the other side first, why don’t you just flip the ice-cream around?’ ‘Flip it around?’ my colleague asked, appalled by the suggestion. You can’t manipulate il destino like that!’ ‘Giovanni, it’s not destiny. It’s an ice-cream sandwich.’ ‘See!’ he said, slapping his hand on his knee. ‘This is where I see you are American. Flip the gelato! That would go against Italian fatalistic principles. But, Americans are always convinced that they have the power to make a situation come out the way they want. You think you can have control over the current of life’s events!’ ‘No. What I think is that you are completely neurotic and should limit your caffeine intake.’ My friend laughed. Odd as the conversation was, it was destined to become odder before our coffee was through. ‘Well, at least tell me why “vanilla first brings bad luck?”’ I wanted to know. ‘Because I like vanilla better and would prefer to eat it last.’ Everyone else at the table agreed. It’s always best to finish with one’s favourite. ‘Actually, I always start with my best flavour,’ I mused. ‘It must be an American thing. You come from the society of instant gratification. You want what you want and you want it fast,’ Giovanni told me. ‘Yes, and what I want right now is to kick you in the shins. Stop taking every word I say and making it into a cultural study on the American mentality!’ ‘Look who’s talking! You can dish it out but, you can’t take it, little Miss Italian Voices.’ I frowned. ‘Are you being mean to me on purpose or are you doing it by accident?’ I asked. ‘Mean to you? I’m not being mean to you! Ti prendo in giro. If I didn’t tease you a bit, you’d never know how deeply I love you.’ Intercultural relationships are never easy. But today, we seemed to be having a particularly hard time. There are several elements of this exchange that I find worthy of discussion. But first thing’s first. For those who are wondering, Giovanni, does not, in fact, ‘love me deeply.’ At best, he thinks I’m smart. At worst, he thinks I’m a pain in the neck. The feeling, of course, is mutual. Another day, I would make sure to inform him that Englishspeaking men would risk their inheritance if they declared ‘deep love’ to a lady-colleague on lunch break. Right then, though, I wanted to talk about teasing. ‘Listen, Deep Love,’ I told my friend, ‘Don’t prendermi in giro too much. I’d much rather love you than fight you.’ ‘Oh Linda, sometimes you are quite slow to understand,’ Giovanni grinned. ‘In Italy, when we tease a person, it means we hold them in high regard. We consider them smart enough to capture the core of the joke. Intelligent people can always face themselves without offence.’ An entirely Italian concept, I found his reasoning quite profound and it got my mind ticking. If translated literally, the expression ‘ti prendo in giro’ can be translated as ‘I take you around,’ which to me, sounds like an invitation to see the city. It is an invitation in a way but, the landscape you’ll be taken to see may surprise you. Ti prendo in giro implies a free tour of the true you. Let your enemies be false to your face and tell you your talents. In Italy, trust your friends to tattle your truths. Ti prendo in giro, means they are going to take you sight-seeing but, your weaknesses will be the monuments you’ll be forced to visit. Admittedly, it’s a bit of a torturous trip at first, but it can prove quite worthwhile once you get the hang of it. Italians tease mercilessly. The more merciless the ‘giro’ the deeper the bond. ‘Okay, Giova,’ I sigh, ‘Let’s pretend I get your point. Teasing is a form of high regard. Va bene, I believe you. What I can’t believe is that you order chocolate ice-cream everyday when you don’t even like it. Why not choose the sandwich that only has vanilla?’ ‘And miss out on the suspense? Suspense is much more pleasurable than ice-cream, Linda, and if you’d open your mind, you’d know that.’ ‘Let’s make a deal, Giovanni. I’ll open my mind, if you shut your mouth.’ My colleague smiled. He loves it when I’m mean to him. In Italy, it’s just more proof of ‘loving deeply’. �������������������������� ��������������������������������������������� �� ������������������� ������������������������������� ���������������� ������������������� ������ �������������������������� ������������������� �������������������������� ��������� ������������������������� � � �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ����������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������� ������������������������������� ���������������������������������� ������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������� 16 Life in Italy Thursday 29 June 2006 www.theflorentine.net Culture & CUSTOMS Forza Azzurri!!! Watching the World Cup through ‘Blue’ eyes By Leo Cardini W e all know that in the Belpaese, football is a fundamental part of everyday life, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. There is, however a segment of the Italian population that remains entirely untouched by this national disease. First, there are the wives and children of those guys who spend all their time at the stadium. Traumatized by their fathers’ soccer-induced Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde transformation each Sunday, they choose to practice a different sport. Then, there are the artists and intellectuals who don’t want to mix with the mass of desperate fans who suffer profound moral dilemmas over eleven guys in shorts running after a ball. But every four years, the miracle repeats itself. The moment of the World Cup arrives and the Nazionale Azzurra runs out onto the field, and even those ‘desaparecidos’ who claim to be allergic to football, find themselves a spot on the crowded sofa to watch the match. If the neighbourhood bar hangs up a white sheet on which to project the game, these impromptu fans flock there for drinks and sudden soccer thrills. Otherwise, they go see the match in the town’s main square, ready to use the central fountain as a swimming pool should the Blue team lasso an unexpected victory. The ‘desaparicidos’ try and keep themselves well-hidden, or heavily masked with shirts, wigs and hats (all blue, of course) in hopes of not being recognized. Still, they are there. And their passion for the game is complete. Then there are the professionisti, true professional fans, like my friend Alessandro, the person with whom I’ve had the privilege of sharing the last few World Cup matches. Il Professionista watches every single World Cup match. If there’s a game on while he’s at work, he videotapes it. It’s just too easy to save one’s enthusiasm for Italy, the conventional Brazilian team or Argentina. Il Professionista even gets excited about the unwatchable 0-0 match between Liechtenstein and the Far Oer Islands, broadcast at two in the morning. Friends are allowed to watch the game with him—but no more than two at a time and only those rigorously chosen. He leaves the telephone off the hook, has a beer during the first half, and another in the second. He watches football with an expert eye and doesn’t root for anyone in particular. A master of objectivity, il Professionista professes loyalty to the motto ‘may the best man win.’ Usually that means Brazil. Il Professionista has been a fan of his favourite team (in this case the Fiorentina) since before he was born. The third group is made up of the tifosi, people who normally watch football throughout the year. When the World Cup comes to town, they become virtually possessed by the Blue Devil and enter into a catatonic state for the entire Italian adventure. They dress their children in Totti’s jersey and take two days off work when Italy plays. They send their wives to the seaside, happy for once to pay for their mother-in-laws’ hotel stay. I tifosi are those who love to watch the game in the company of anywhere from 20 to 200 people. They are prone to organizing numerous dinner parties in honour of the Blue team—usually at other people’s houses. Then they show up with cases of beer, new year’s eve horns and a giant flag to hang from the windowsill. I tifosi park their scooters at their host’s door, ready to zip out into the celebratory traffic frenzy that occurs in event of a win. This type of World Cup junkie is probably the most numerous of the four. Another interesting category of soccer fans is gli sportivi. They possess a profound knowledge of football (so they say) and delight in maintaining a level of cool detachment towards the game. During ani- mated football arguments at a bar, they always keep to the sidelines. You can recognize them by their slightly raised eyebrows. Gli sportivi are generally in total disagreement with all of the coaches’ decisions. Always ready to praise the heroic acts of the ‘Italian heroes’ in case of victory, they are equally eager to offend those ‘spoiled rich fools’ if the Nazionale team loses. Defeat will often cause a sportivo to smile. He knew it all along. And with an air of superiority, he’ll tell you so: ‘I knew things would end up this way. It was clear from the very beginning. It’s impossible to win with a team like this one.’ Then he’ll continue by listing all the details of his ‘personal training plan’ which undoubtedly would have brought the Blue team to World Cup triumph and victory. In addition to these four categories, there are certainly other exceptions and special cases. Take, for example, my friend Marcellino, otherwise known as ‘Sintesis’ for his incredible capacity to take at least 45 minutes to tell you that tomorrow it might rain. He is beyond doubt the most ignorant person I know regarding soccer. I’d bet money that he couldn’t even guess how many players make up a team. But Marcello is a real professional when it comes to the very Italian art of courting women, so during the World Cup you’ll find him dressed like Ronaldinho at the Brasilian fan-club party, dancing the Samba at the Cascine. Or when the USA plays, you’ll find him in front of the maxi screen in Piazzale Michelangelo wrapped in an American flag, squeezed between two girls from California. In the end, this too, is passion. And that, after all, is what the World Cup is all about. ����������������������������������������������� ������������������������ Workshop, Show Rooms and classes ���������������������������� ���������������������������� ���� ����������� �������� ���� ���������� ���� ������������ ����������������������������� ��������������������������� �������������������������� ���� ���� �������� ��� ���� ��������� �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������� 17 Life in Italy www.theflorentine.net Thursday 29 June 2006 Culture & CUSTOMS Raindrops kept falling The birth of the Tuscan cigar By Deirdre Pirro ‘The Toscano, or Tuscan cigar, is the most popular cigar in Italy. It not only commands an 80-percent share of the market, but it has also generated a series of offspring, like the smaller Toscanello.’ S moking is politically incorrect these days, but there will always be the die-hards and rebels. Cigar smokers are among such free spirits. They consider themselves the royalty of smokers and will go to extraordinary lengths to satisfy their habit – even risking fines or imprisonment in America if caught buying or smuggling the outlawed though much loved Cuban cigar. But lovers of Cuban cigars are not the only ‘purists.’ Italy has its very own breed. In fact, Italy is the most important tobacco producing country in Europe and has long boasted its own distinctive cigar industry. According to a report published in 2003 by the Tobacco Observatory, tobacco crops cover approximately 37,000 acres of land in Italy - mainly in Veneto, Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio and Campagna - producing approximately 125,000 tons of tobacco, just under 2 percent of global production. The Toscano, or Tuscan cigar, is the most popular cigar in Italy. It not only commands an 80-percent share of the market, but it has also generated a series of offspring, like the smaller Toscanello. Made even more famous by being clinched between Clint Eastwood’s teeth in his many spaghetti westerns, the Toscano is traditionally tapered in shape, while a panatella about six inches in length, with a uniquely strong flavour and rich aroma. As fact is often more mysterious than fiction, the Toscano was first produced and given its name by pure accident over a century and a half ago. One summer day at the tobacco factory in Florence, a bale of Kentucky tobacco leaves - a high quality variety of tobacco grown in Italy was left out in the open. Caught in an unexpected downpour of rain, the leaves got wet and started to ferment. Not wishing to make too great a loss on this mishap, the wily factory manager decided to dry out what he could of the fermenting leaves and turn them into cheap cigars. To further save money, he only used tobacco filler inside a single Kentucky outer leaf to make the cigars. He then simply put a band around them (now in the colours of the Italian flag) instead of covering them with a wrapper, which today is still one of their characteristics. They became known as Toscani and were an overnight success. Soon the king, Vittorio Emanuele II, and even Garibaldi were smoking them. In 1818, regular production of the Toscani was transferred to the tobacco factory in Lucca, then part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Processing and production methods have changed very little since then. When farmers harvest the tobacco, they hang the leaves in rows and slowly dry them out over the heat and smoke from fires. The dried leaves are then sorted and bundled together, ready to be sold. On reaching the factory in Lucca, the leaves are immersed in water to restore humidity which allows them to be transformed into cigars, either completely by hand (for the best quality products) or partially by machine. Traditionally, women cigar makers hand roll the Toscani. After 18 months of training, they acquire the skill to make one cigar almost identi- ������������������������������� cal to another in size and shape. They ensure that sufficient space is left for air to pass by not packing the tobacco too tightly which would prevent the cigars from “drawing” properly. An expert cigar maker can roll over 500 cigars a day. Next the cigars are placed on trays and put in special chambers to dry out. Finally, with this process complete, they are left to ‘age’ in cellars, much like good wine, where they mature for a period of not less than four months and sometimes as long as 12 months. Only then are they ready for sale at your local tobacconist. On March 10 of this year, in a deal worth 95 million euro, the manufacturers of the Toscano, the Italian subsidiary of British American Tobacco, sold the brand back to Italian proprietors, the Bologna-based Maccaferri Group. The tobacco processing plant in Forano della Chiana and the production factories in Lucca and Cava de Tirreni were included in the agreement. While the transaction still has to be approved by the Italian Government and the competition watchdog, no problems are anticipated. Deirdre Pirro is an Australian lawyer who has lived and worked in Florence for many years. Apart from her general practice, she is currently working on a book on particular aspects of art law and she dedicates much of her time to environmental protection. She also has a special interest in food and its history, particularly in relation to popular customs and traditions. ���������������������������������������� ������������������������ ���������������������������������� ���������������������������� ������������������� ������������� ����������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������� 18 Life in Italy Thursday 29 June 2006 www.theflorentine.net STYLE & FASHION Catching Vespa fever Taking a spin on the scooter that stings By Helen Bond M y first trip to Italy was in 1994, when I was 18. It was my first holiday without my family. Just me and my friends. The trip was an escape, and Italy was the perfect place to come for a taste of life, to learn that your time is to be savoured, enjoyed, sometimes risked and at all costs, lived. And the thing that summed this up, that enchanted and romanticised my 18 year old eyes and ears wasn’t the talk of gladiators in the Coliseum, or the awed silence surrounding the David; it wasn’t the charm of the Italian men, or the beauty of the sunset over the Ponte Vecchio. The thing that made me want to strike out on my own two feet, that which captured the essence of Italy and spurred my teenage yearning for independence with a buzzing, energetic sting—was the Vespa. This dazzling demonstration of Italian design has come to epitomise so many things, to so many generations over the last 60 years, that it’s difficult to know where to begin. When I mentioned my plan to write about Vespas to my godmother, she immediately exclaimed with whimsical enthusiasm how much she loved her two-wheeled friend in the 60’s. (This stunned me, as it’s always hard to imagine your parents’ generation as lively and energetic as your own.) When I asked her what the Vespa meant to her, her reply was the same as all those who I’d asked before: ‘freedom’. Freedom to go where she wanted, freedom from the home, freedom to visit the coast or the city, to meet whom she wanted when she wanted. Back when it was launched in 1946, the Vespa became synonymous with a host of other freedoms too. Vespa meant a glimpse of potential economic freedom in a post war era, a release from a life of farm labor for those who came to be employed at the Piaggio factory in Pontedera. For many Italian women, the right to vote (first granted in Italy in 1948) coincided with the introduction of this tidy little two-wheeler, who virtually untied their hands from the kitchen sink. And through the introduction of part payments, Enrico Piaggio ensured that the Vespa reached as far into society as it could. Here was a relatively low cost, economical, practical vehicle which would get you to work (without oil stains on your beautifully pressed pantaloni) and much further, should you wish. After the economic and political destruction of World War II, the Vespa offered Italy a bright, beautifully-designed and -engineered buzz of optimism. Move from the 40s to the 50s and you find the Vespa freeing Hepburn’s incognito princess to fall in love with Gregory Peck. You glimpse Charlton Heston on his Vespa during time out from filming Ben Hur, not to mention a role for the little ‘wasp’ in a host of Italian films, including La Notte Brava and Bellissima. In the 1960s, the Vespa represented the search for liberty and the aspirations of a generation seeking release from the stifling hardships of everyday life. Gilberto Filippetti’s advertising slogan ‘Chi “Vespa” mangia le mele’ (or ‘He who “Vespas” eats apples’) grabbed the imagination of those under 30, enticing Italian youth to ‘Vespa’ with all its connotations of forbidden fruits, golden apples, the ‘Big Apple’ of America. On into the 70’s and the Piaggio production line suffered as much as the next from the oil crisis. But still the Vespa held on to its roots as it became linked to women’s liberation, opening up opportunities for freedom of expression, creativity and most importantly female independence. In 1980, a record 815,000 two-wheelers were sold, but just three years later this number had halved, and it wasn’t until the 1990s that sales began to recover, reaching 300,000 in 1999. Finally, the year 2000 saw the opening of the Giovanni Alberto Agnelli Piaggio Museum in Pontedera. When a scooter gets a museum you know you have an undisputed classic on your hands. For information visit www.museopiaggio. com. Now, in 2006, my Vespa experience is lim- con vespa si puó With a history that spans 60 years, the Vespa has come to represent liberty and freedom to more than one generation. Helen Bond celebrates the Vespa’s birthday with a look into why the motor scooter is as inspirational and vibrant now as it was back in 1946. con vespa si puó con vespa si puó con vespa si puó ited to that of a pillion passenger, weaving in and out of traffic with that Italian grace in impatience that I would never be able to muster myself with my clumsy Anglo-Saxon irritability. But even as a passenger a vibrancy is present, a thrill and energy coursing through the veins like morning’s first shot of espresso. Back in 1994 Italy captured my 18-year-old heart and showed me what there was fun to be had and how life was to be lived. And today I envy the Italian youth, because what better way is there to navigate life than accompanied by the buzz of the Vespa? Helen Bond has been attempting to satiate her appetite for all things Italian since January. Despite returning to Oxford, England in May she continues to study Italian and is currently trying to grasp the past conditional tense whilst dreaming of returning from the spires of Oxford to the spires of Florence. Try Sam’s for a bit of America !! SAM’ S MARKETS Florence Amsterdam SAM'S Amsterdam opening soon! Over 250 products imported by Sam’s from the USA: Skippy Peanut Butter (Crunchy and Smooth), A & W Root Beer, Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, 7-Up, Welch’s Juices (Grape, Cranberry)Lipton Cup a Soup, Oreos, Hunt’s Chile con Carne, Starkist Tuna, Starbucks Coffees, CoffeeMate, Heinz Baked Beans, Jiffy Pie-crust & Cake Mix, Reeses Pieces, Hershey’s Candies, Quaker Instant Oatmeal, Chips Ahoy, Squirt, Planters Salted Peanuts, Chef Boyardee Soups, Betty Crocker Cake Mixes, Croutons and Stuffing, Pumpkin Pie Mix, Hellmanns Mayo, Nutter Butter Cookies, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Cheez-it, Doritos, Pop Tarts, Campbells Soups, Nabisco Saltines, Pop Secret Popcorn ……and a lot more ! SAM’S HAS IT ! Sam’s is located in the center of Florence near the Bargello Museum Via Ghibellina 117r. - Tel. 055-7189020 Store hours: Mon-Sat 11.00 am – 7.00 pm www.samsmarkets.com 19 Life in Italy www.theflorentine.net Thursday 29 June 2006 The ARTS ‘Passion For Life’ International art exhibition supports cancer research By Lynn Davis Irises in morning light, Antoine Gaber O ne of the best things about Florence in the summer months is being able to be out and about with events, concerts and exhibitions; there is always an array of things going on to do and see. Here’s an idea for something to do while you’re roaming the streets, looking to get away from the heat and flocks of people: pop your head into the church of Santo Stefano, just a stone’s throw from the Ponte Vecchio, and there in the Chiostro Museo Diocesano (the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art) you will find an exhibition of international contemporary artworks as part of the programme, ‘Passion for Life’. Between June and October, this series of exhibitions will be shown in Santo Stefano’s Museum, as well as at the Grand Hotel Baglioni. The idea for ‘Passion for Life’ was developed by the Canadian artist, Antoine Gaber, to support cancer research. A percentage of the sales not only of his works themselves but other works online, such as catalogues, reproductions of works, even postcards, will go towards breast cancer research. The artworks in “Passion for Life” range from sculpture to digital art to painting in a range of styles, and include artists from all over the world from Korea to Mexico to Brazil. Actually shown as a series of exhibitions, with Antoine Gaber starting off with his own solo show, the other seventeen artists will be showing their works in groups of two or three up until October. Antoine Gaber’s work can be described as ‘Post-Impressionist’ with paintings that are reminiscent of the works of Monet and Van Gogh. He has been dedicating his time to cancer research for the last 20 years, and since 1999 has been using his artwork as a way to raise awareness and funds for cancer. Amongst the artists in the exhibitions following Gaber’s, you will find the works of Polish photographer Andrezej Jerzy Lech, who creates timeless black and white photographs of city-scapes, while the Japanese artist Sumio Inoue uses photography to create dark, atmospheric images printed with photo emulsion on Japanese paper – dark church interiors emerge out of the fibres of the paper almost looking like paintings rather than photographs. The work of Dutch artist Jackie Sleper is an interesting mix of painting, photography and other media to create colourful and fanciful artworks of animals and children in fairytale-like worlds. ‘Passion for Life’ is a gallant gesture that intertwines beauty and a good cause, set in the backdrop of one of Florence’s historical churches. The ex-convent of Santo Stefano al Ponte, which sits in between the Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery, dates back to the early twelfth century. In ��������������������� ������������������� PAPIER ARTI e MESTIERI Paper Shop Photo Albums Journals Diaries Playing Cards Invitations Business Cards Menus Letterheads Recipes Artistic Calendars ��������������������������������������������������������� recent times, the church has had to undergo reconstructions after several unfortunate events: it was damaged extensively during World War II from mines when the bridges and buildings surrounding the Ponte Vecchio were bombed. Later, it was again damaged in the flood of 1966, which left virtually nothing in the historical centre escape unharmed. San Stefano al Ponte was also partly damaged by the bomb that was set off near the Uffizi Gallery in via dei Georgofili in 1993. The Diocesan Museum of the church was opened in 1995, and holds works of sacred Italian art and includes important artists such as Giotto, Pisano, Paolo Ucello and Filippo Lippi. It is here in the heart of the historic centre of Florence that this exhibition will share its space with these Medieval and Renaissance greats. The dates for the exhibitions in the Diocesan Museum of Santo Stefano are from July 1-30 and then from September 15 to October 14. The museum is free to enter and is open every day from 11 am to 1 pm and 4 pm until 8 pm. The rest of the exhibition will be held on the elegant terrace of the Hotel Baglioni in Piazza dell’Unità Italiana from September 1-30. The terrace is also free to enter and open every day from 5 pm, which by the way, also conveniently coincides with Happy Hour for an aperitif. For more information on Antoine Gaber’s programme “Passion for Life”, visit the website: www.antoinegaber.com, or for more information on the exhibitions you can call 055/292082. e escape from mediocrity |||||||||||| INTERNATIONAL STUDIO HAIR AND MAKE UP via Porta Rossa 82r FLORENCE o55 293393 o55 2194o2 20 Life in Italy Thursday 29 June 2006 www.theflorentine.net Travel & LEISURE Siena: city of colour Duomo, Siena an art gallery featuring all the greats of Sienese Gothic painting and the Palazzo Piccolomini, the state archive museum where you will find the Biccherna tablets. These beautiful and interesting pieces of art were used as the covers for the city’s accounts books from the thirteenth century onwards and are perfect for those interested in both history and art – as is the whole of Siena. A visit to Florence’s favourite enemy By Alison Conlon Effects of Good Government on the City Life, Ambrogio Lorenzetti - Palazzo Pubblico Photo by Alison Conlon S iena has a more insular and less forthcoming atmosphere than Florence – but it’s one you definitely should get to know. If you have little time to spend in the city, use it wisely by wandering the steep and twisting streets, viewing the numerous palazzi, the Duomo, the Campo, churches and shops filled with local produce. But it is best to spend at least one day visiting some of the museums. First stop on anyone’s list should be the shell-shaped Campo that is the heart of Siena and the place where the famous horse race, the Palio, happens twice a year. In what is claimed to be most beautiful piazza in Italy, you will find the Palazzo Pubblico and the Torre del Mangia – as well as numerous cafés and restaurants vying for the tourists’ cash. Ignore the prices and sit down with a coffee, enjoying the view for 15 minutes before making your way into the Museo Civico in the palace. Begun in 1297, the Palazzo Pubblico is a monument to Siena’s past achievements. Not only beautiful to look at on the outside, inside you will find some of the most important pieces of Siena’s art history. In the Sala della Pace is Ambrogio Lorenzetti’s triumph, The Allegory of Good and Bad Government, which was painted in 1338 and was there to remind the ruling council of what they should and shouldn’t be doing. Therefore, on one wall the fresco shows a thriving city that is clearly Siena, where people are working at all trades and the land outside the city walls thrives. On the opposite wall, there is Bad Government, with a city ruled by a demon, where thieves thrive and everyone looks after themselves rather than working together for the common good. Other highlights in the palazzo include a fabulous Maestà by Simone Martini and two chapels painted by Taddeo di Bartolo. Don’t miss climbing up the steps to the Loggia, where the Council of Nine used to get some fresh air because they were unable to leave the Palazzo Pubblico during their term of office, which usually lasted two months. The views of the market square and surrounding area are beautiful but if you are unafraid of heights then you really should climb the 503 steps of the Torre del Mangia. Looking down on to the winding streets of this medieval, orangecoloured city is amazing, before your eyes drift over the rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside. Another vantage point is the Museo dell’Opera Metropolitana, or more precisely, a section of the ‘new’ Duomo, which was to be an extension of the old one. Building started in 1339 to celebrate the success of Siena, as well as make the cathedral bigger and better than the recentlybegan Duomo of Florence. Unfortunately, the Black Death came along in 1348, wiping out more than half of the population. It caused such chaos for the political regime that never again did Siena reach such heights. The new Duomo was never finished and remains a constant reminder of the city’s failure. The façade is a much easier climb than the Torre del Mangia and definitely worth the effort for the sea of roof tiles that awaits you at the top, as well as a perfect view of the Palazzo Pubblico. The rest of the museum features numerous pieces of beautiful Sienese art, including Duccio’s monumental Maestà. Visitors can appreciate a double-sided altarpiece painted in the early 1300s; on completion it was paraded through the town in triumph before being placed on the high altar of the Duomo. From the museum, head into the Duomo itself, which is strikingly decorated with zebra-striped bands of black and white marble. Once inside, look out for Nicola Pisano’s pulpit of 1269, the marble pavement featuring 56 panels crafted over 200 years by almost every artist who worked in the city. Then look for what I consider the cathedral’s crowning glory, the Piccolomini Library, which has a series of brightly-coloured sixteenth century frescos by Pinturicchio, celebrating the life of Pius II. If during all this touring, you need sustenance, head down the hill to Le Campane Ristorante, at Via delle Campane 6, just off one of the main thoroughfares, Via de Città. They serve fabulous Sienese food, so take time to enjoy dishes like the pasta with wild boar sauce, pecorino-filled ravioli and roasted meats. And if, after all that pasta, you still have the energy to continue, further sightseeing recommendations include Santa Maria della Scala, the medieval pilgrim hospital opposite the Duomo that is now open for everyone to view the frescos which until the 1980s were only visible to the ill. Or visit the Pinacoteca Nazionale, (Please note that the best way to get to Siena from Florence is by bus, which takes just over an hour and stops right in the centre of the city, in Piazza Matteotti. Buses depart from Florence at the bus station on Via Santa Caterina, next to the railway station of Santa Maria Novella.) www.theflorentine.net 21 Life in Italy Thursday 20 April 2006 Travel & LEISURE The Palio: ready, set, go painting by Cathy Gale A medieval horse race brings Siena alive By Kara Hoffman S ummer in Siena means the Palio – a famed historic horse race run each year on July 2 and Aug. 16. The Palio tradition dates back to the 11th century, when the race was initiated to honor the Madonna dell’Assunta, patroness and advocate of Siena, for her protection of the Sienese militia in their battles against the Florentines. The main players of the Palio are the city’s 17 contrade, or neighborhoods, as designated back in the middle ages. The contrade formerly served a military function, though through the years the militaristic aspects have disappeared and the contrade now function as multiple tight-knit communities within the city. Each contrada of Siena has its own government, coat of arms, emblem and colors. Today rivalries run high among contrade. Some advise, for instance, against marrying outside one’s contrada, as it is likened to breaking a birthright. These rivalries culminate at the Palio. While the actual race lasts just over a minute, the planning and festivities leading up to the dropping of the rope on July 2 and Aug. 16 last for months. Each year, April 26 marks the opening of parade season. Each contrada– porcupine, goose, giraffe, snail and eagle, to name a few–celebrates its patron saint with a lively and colorful procession throughout the streets of Siena. For each Palio race, only 10 of the 17 contrade are chosen to participate. On the day of the tratta, or the official drawing of the horses, 10 horses are selected and assigned to the participating contrade–luck playing a large role in the process. For the next four days, fierce competition dominates as the contrade begin preparing for the Palio. During these final crucial days, Siena’s breathtaking Piazza del Campo is transformed into the official race track, the perimeter ring being covered by a layer of dirt and sand. The length of the circle is .21 of a mile and the race entails three loops around the campo, equaling .66 of a mile in total. The race typical lasts a minute and a half, give or take 10 seconds. The race’s death-defying speeds require external and internal barricades and protective padding in specific areas. The most dangerous of these areas is the curve at the front right area of ‘When the winning horse crosses the finish line (with or without the jockey on its back) the Piazza del Campo erupts in pandemonium – in shouts, songs, and tears.‘ the Piazza, known as the curve of San Martino. This 95-degree angle has been the site of nearly 60 percent of the accidents that have happened in the past 20 years. After the horses are assigned, the days are filled with six trial runs, on-going celebrations and, the night before the race, a final rehearsal dinner. Each contrada lays out rows of tables 50-feet long in the street, and local restaurateurs serve bottomless bowls of pasta, platters of an assorted meats, and jugs of wine during the estimated 25,000 diners. On the mornings of July 2 and Aug. 16, anticipation and excitement fills the streets of Siena and fazzoletti, or the colorful scarves of each contrada, are proudly tied around the necks of both young and old. A final trial run is then held. The horses are taken to the participating contrada’s church for a benediction. The final parade and procession begins as the Piazza del Campo fills with revellers from near and far. The seats and bleachers that have been erected all around the track host the 33,000 ticket holders are lucky enough to have a seat. Every window, balcony and loggia is filled and the center of the piazza is filled with nearly 50,000 brave souls willing to be “trapped” inside the piazza once the entrance has been officially closed, approximately three hours before the start of the race. The piazza is then sealed off until after the race is completed, signifying no bathroom breaks and limited accessibility to water and other liquids. Seconds before the race begins, loud shouts and competing songs of rival contrade fill the air. Jockeys riding bareback, or a pelo, work to line up the horses, making last minute deals with other jockeys to outsmart fierce rivals while waiting for officials to signal the race’s start. False starts often plague the beginning and when the rope is finally dropped, the race is over before the blink of an eye. When the winning horse crosses the finish line (with or without the jockey on its back) the Piazza del Campo erupts in pandemonium – in shouts, songs, and tears. The winning contrada floods the racetrack in celebration, having earned bragging rights for the coming year. This year the Palio will be held on: Sunday, July 2, 2006 at 7:30 Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at 7:00 For more information visit www.ilpalio.org �������������� �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������ ����������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������� 22 News & Views Thursday 29 June 2006 www.theflorentine.net Book REVIEWS Lasting Love, Politics and Poetry In the bicentennial year of Elizabeth Barrett-Browning’s birth, Ed Hayes reads the most Florentine poem of the most romantic Anglo-Florentine E lizabeth and Robert Browning arrived in Italy in 1846 following a secret marriage in London. For Elizabeth, coming to Florence was a merciful release. As an invalid, she revelled in the air, “so much lighter and more elastic” than the smog of London. And more, she was escaping the claustrophobic brutality of her father’s house – her father felt betrayed by the secret love affair, and afterwards cut off all ties with her. The Brownings’ courtship was immortalised in Elizabeth’s secretly written Sonnets From the Portuguese: “How Do I love thee? Let me count the ways! / I love thee to the depth & breadth & height / My Soul can reach…” Robert later insisted that they be published – as translations to disguise how personal they were. He wrote later “I dared not reserve to myself the finest sonnets written in any language since Shakespeare’s”. The Italy they came to was in rapid flux. It was a divided land – the Austrians ruling in the north, the Spaniards oppressing the south, an Austrian Grand Duke, Leopold, ruling Tuscany from the Palazzo Pitti, and the Pope holding Rome and the surrounding lands. Elizabeth followed the struggles of the Risorgimento – the movement to unify and bring freedom to Italy. In her poem Casa Guidi Windows, she celebrates the civic liberties granted by the Grand Duke: “I heard last night a little child go singing / ‘Neath Casa Guidi windows, by the church / ‘O Bella Liberta, O Bella!’” On their first wedding anniversary, Elizabeth and Robert had watched the people’s procession of celebration pass beneath their house near Piazza San Felice. The poem reveals Elizabeth’s excitement as a lifelong invalid who suddenly has the opportunity to wit- ‘I HEARD last night a little child so singing ’Neath Casa Guidi windows, by the church, O bella libertà, O bella!—stringing The same words still on notes he went in search So high for, you concluded the upspringing Of such a nimble bird to sky from perch Must leave the whole bush in a tremble green, And that the heart of Italy must beat, While such a voice had leave to rise serene ’Twixt church and palace of a Florence street: A little child, too, who not long had been By mother’s finger steadied on his feet, And still O bella libertà he sang.’ JULIET OF NATIONS, Casa Guidi Windows British Institute, Lungarno Guicciardini 9 Wednesday 5 July At 15.00, reading of Casa Guidi Windows (See review) At 17.00 visit to Casa Guidi, house of the Brownings At 18.00 Lecture: 200th Anniversary of the birth of Elizabeth Barrett Browning Sister Julia Bolton Holloway is Professor Emerita of Medieval Studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder, previously custodian of the Browning’s Casa Guidi house in Florence and custodian of the cemetery in Piazzale Donatello, known as the ‘English Cemetery’, where the Brownings lie buried. Poetry along the silver river BOOK REVIEW Title: PERCORSO GUIDATO The Guide to Florence with exercises and activities for students of Italian as a foreign language Ideal for pre-intermediate level students of Italian, The Guide to Florence is a new and useful tool for those who study Italian as a foreign language. It is divided into short chapters, complete with exercises and exercise key, illustrations, and comments that relate to particular texts and information on Florentine language use. Its aim is to serve as a practical guide which provides answers to questions regarding cultural aspects of everyday life in Italy. The guide also helps learners develop vocabulary useful for a holiday in Florence. This guide can be used as a supplement to a course book in class or be enjoyed in its own right by students who live either in or outside Italy. Author: S. du Bessé ISBN: 88-7573-360-0 Price: 5.20 euro Pages: 80 ness history firsthand. She admits that she might be optimistic, but she prefers “to sing with these who are awake /with birds, with babes, with men who will not fear…” In the second part of Casa Guidi Windows, written 1849-50, she laments the dashing of her hopes for freedom, following the entrance of the hated Austrian forces from the north into Florence. While some of Elizabeth’s political ideals were naïve, she was emotionally and intellectually engaged with Italian events – Casa Guidi Windows, indeed, was published simultaneously in English and Italian translation in 1851. She is still remembered in Italy for her part in championing the ideals of the Risor- Cultural events on the Arno July 10-12, 24-25 Love stories and comedy shows inspired by the Divine Comedy will be playing all summer aboard the antique sand boats of the Renaioli rowers. The show ‘Come in America’ by Manuela Critelli, will be preformed by actors Silvia Giudi and Fabio Mascagni who will interpret a ‘backwards’ version of the story of The Inferno’s Paolo and Francesca. June 29, July 17-19, 31 Bonacci editore Via Paolo Mercuri 8 00193 Roma Tel: 06/68300004 Fax: 06/69966382 [email protected] www.bonacci.it Navigate on the Arno from Ponte alle Grazie to Ponte alla Carraia, and enjoy the river’s natural beauty and a unique view of Lungarno’s most beautiful palazzos. Onboard, feast your ears on the Venturino Camaiti burlesque and humorous verses inspired by Dante, Florence’s divine poet. Boats leave at 9:30 pm from the ‘porticciola’ in Piazza Mentana. Tickets cost 20 euro. For more information call 055/50000640. ***All shows will be preformed in Italian. www.theflorentine.net 23 Useful Numbers and Classified Ads Thursday 29 June 2006 Classified ADS Housing For Sale/Immobili Vendita Brand new villa in Camaiore (LU) luxury finishing, on 3 levels. 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 kitchens, 2 lounges, storage, cellar, garage, covered terrace, garden. Quite environment, beautiful view. 520.000 euro. Call 3405010163 Reggello, Villa Padronale in favored position overlooking Chianti hills, 4 bedrooms, 3 living areas and hectare of olive trees. Contact www.toptuscanyrealestate.com Chianti – Lucolena, 110 sqm. restored apartments in farmhouse, garden, cellar, pool, parking, panoramic view 360,000,00 Euro. Developer 347.8138814 – 055.2322242 Hamlet in Tuscany for sale. Located in the Municipality of Barberino di Mugello. 8/10 km. from Lake Bilancino/Outlet/Golf Course/Race Track. Hamlet needs partial restoration and can be purchased partially or in full. Includes 15 flats, 6-acre park and small lake. It is possible to build-on structure should buyer intend to use for tourist purposes. Fax 055/2336990. Email: [email protected] Loft For Sale in Prato. 2 lofts near historic centre, each 137 sq. m., ideal for home office. We can show layout and location. For information, e-mail [email protected] Housing for Rent/Immobili in Affitto Florentineflats.com offers quality apartments in Florence city centre at affordable prices, short and long term rentals, minimum 5 days. Call Rachel 348.0457857 / 055.685661, [email protected] Stunning and sophisticated loft apartment in Palazzo Caponi. Tons of original frescoes. Perfect for executive couple or single. 1 bedroom, 1 bath. 2,000 euro/month. Judieanne Colusso +39.335.839-0712, [email protected], www.coloursoftuscany.com Resident accommodations in the San Frediano neighbourhood. Independent building with 31 rooms complete with bathroom, air-conditioning, electronic entrance keys, winter and summer courtyard, small car park. Also guests universities and colleges for both brief and long periods. For more information write to [email protected] or send a fax to 055/2336990. Bagno a Ripoli. 3 bedroom, 2 bath apartment near International elementary school. Small private garden, garage, terrace. Lots of light and beautiful Chianti views. Fully furnished. 1,300 euro/month. Judieanne Colusso +39.335.839-0712, [email protected], www.coloursoftuscany.com Near Piazzale Michelangelo secretly hidden with private garden and only 15 minute walk to center. 2 bedroom, 2 bath. Fully furnished. 2,000 euro/month. Judieanne Colusso +39.335.839-0712, [email protected], www. coloursoftuscany.com Artist’s Loft for Sublet: Wonderful light for painting in via Santa Spirito. Available Aug 1-Jan 1. 400 � per month (utilities included). Francesca 340 2459053, [email protected] A large room with private bathroom with use of kitchen & sitting room in a large & bright flat equipped with every comfort (also for very short period, close to piazza Gavinana), write to e.dellachiesa@theflorentine.net Private Lessons/Lezioni Private Italian individual lessons in Florence. Sharpen your grammar to enjoy conversation. Fluent English, Japanese, French spoken. Call Alberto and his Japanese wife Fumiko, tel. 055-475152, www. azlanguage.it - [email protected] Amici italiani with London School. Italian courses small groups 2 hours per day, weekly enrolments, first 2 hours free, special prices under 26, free film, evenings with Italian friends. Individual lessons. Tel and fax 055.570029 or 055.585860, [email protected] Private oil painting lessons in English near Teatro Goldoni. Still life subject, canvas, paints and easel supplied. All levels welcome. For more information please contact Cathy at 055.2207171/ 338.1499392 Pistoia downtown (walk RR) elegantly renovated apt in historical bldg 4 lge rooms well furnished short-long term euro 900 pm+utl. Call 339.6928710 Italian lessons for all levels. Qualified Italian teacher available for lessons in Florence and the surrounding area. Call Ghita 320.1432943 Help Wanted/Offerte di lavoro Expert craftsman offers individual or group classes in English or Italian. Introduction to chiseling and embossing-theory and practice. Introduction to technical design. Call Fabrizio 338.5060720 or write [email protected]. New York University in Florence seeks candidates for the part-time position of Community Resource Assistant. This four-month, renewable opportunity includes on-duty coverage for students in crisis situations, office hours, events organization and assistance, facilities support, weekly meetings, and check-in and check-out facilitation. Compensation includes salary, living accommodations, and meal plan. Experience working with U.S. students, or interest in the area, preferred. Ability to speak and write English at proficient level required. Ability to work legally in Italy is required and the sole responsibility of the applicant. Interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume to: florence. [email protected]. The French school of Florence is seeking applications for an English teacher at the elementary level. Qualified candidates will have a teaching degree and prior experience with that age group. Knowledge of French appreciated. Curriculum follows French ministry guidelines. Training internship will be provided. Send applications to [email protected] before July 6. Wanted: Au pair for Italian-English family, 3 children (12, 9,6), Cure area. 1630-2000h Mon-Fri and babysitting (c2 eves). Weekends free. Standard au pair rate. [email protected], cell 339 401 62 47 Luxury Fashion Bag Brand requires a full time Office Manager/ Secretary. Working knowledge and experience of Italian business and administrative practices necessary. Fluent in English and Italian, proficient in Microsoft Office and basic accounting programmes. Exciting and inspiring working environment, central Florence location, opportunities for growth. Call Thomas 339 781 2148 or 055 21 44 21 Leather Crafting Classes. Scuola del Cuoio offers short-term (3 hours/1-2 days) & long-term (1 wk to 10 mths) individual courses and classes under a Master Leather Craftsman inside the Monastery of Santa Croce, via San Giuseppe 5 (thru the garden). Enquiries: tel. 055.244.533 or [email protected]. For more info. visit www.leatherschool.com Leisure & Vacation/ Tempo libero e vacanze B&B in Poggio al Vento. Located in a splendid nineteenth century villa. Furnished with antique furniture, photos and souvenirs from all over the world. Includes two master bedrooms and a welcoming double bedroom. Poggio al Veneto is a small company that deals in organic agriculture. It’s situated in the hills of Scandicci, in Casignano, just a few kilometres from Florence. Ideal for those who wish to visit Florence without giving up the chance to stay in the beautiful Tuscan countryside. For information and reservations call: +39.055.7309861 or +39.328.3876663 or write to [email protected] Panoramic colonial house in the hills of Chianti, only 15 km from Florence. Surrounded by a large park and olive grove, swimming pool. 4-6 person flats for rent for brief periods, completely furnished. Quiet, family-style atmosphere. Landlords available on site for any needs. Tel. 333.2203265, e-mail [email protected] Services/Servizi Personal tech guru. Hire an experienced professional to improve your digital life. Resolves computer, internet, software, personal electronics issues. Joe 3285608842. Body Language Pilates and Yoga Studio. An intimate studio near Centro offers many level-specific classes daily of group Yoga and Pilates mats taught in English with private apparatus sessions available. Call D. Clark at 335.790.4029 Do you have difficulties putting together your resume and cover letter? I am a graduate of Cambridge University, UK, and have helped numerous people get interviews for jobs with the help of a well-written resume and cover letter. For 50 euro, I will meet with you, and write a resume and cover letter. Contact Cassie at [email protected] Personals/Personali Reliable, 31-year-old Australian looking for English teaching, babysitting, waitressing or computer assistance work during July and August in Florence. Tel. 055.4201948 / 339.1684177 French young woman offers baby-sitting and help for homework. Available nights after 19:00, mornings until 10:00 and week ends. Please contact Camille: 347.6048907 ���������� ����������������� ���������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������� �������������������������������������� ��������� ������������������� ������������ ���� Summer Lunch Sunday Brunch euro 14,00 euro 26,00 from 12:30pm to 14.30pm buffet + choosen plate from the menu from 12:30pm to 15.30pm service, bread and water included ����������������������������������� ����������������������� ������������� FROM TUESDAY TO SUNDAY OPEN FROM 12:30 PM TO 1:00 AM ����������������������������������� ���������������������� ��������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������